text:
In addition to Nancy Clark's excellent resource of food, nutrition and weight management books for active people --
http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/Winning_Nutrition_Books__Good_Gifts_for_Good_Health.htm -- I'd like to share a few titles I've come across -- either by referral, online or by accident -- that have been more than influential in my journey of becoming more active, healthy and globally conscious. These are titles that are prominent on my bookshelf; books I often reference or re-read for inspiration and motivation:
"The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling" by Edmund R. Burke and Ed Pavelka: "Not only do they cover the basics, such as best bike gear, proper nutrition, and what type of bike to buy, but they give the lowdown on the latest equipment and explain bike technology without oversimplifying. Serious bikers will surely mark part two, 'The Rides,' which includes training schedules, charts, and race tactics to prepare beginners and experienced cyclists for Centuries (100 mile rides) to Ultras (any distance over 100 miles)."
"Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan: "It's a fascinating journey up and down the food chain, one that might change the way you read the label on a frozen dinner, dig into a steak or decide whether to buy organic eggs. You'll certainly never look at a Chicken McNugget the same way again."
"Diet for a Small Planet" by Frances Moore Lappe. "The book that started the nutrition revolution and taught America the social and personal significance of a new way of eating is still a complete guide for eating well in the 21st Century. Lappe offers a philosophy for changing the world by changing the way you eat."
"Complete Book of Chinese Health & Healing" by Daniel Reid: "Reid's third book on Chinese medicine, martial arts, meditation, and related subjects is thorough, clear, and informative. It opens with an account of the three treasures of Taoism: essence, energy, and spirit. Then, Reid weaves ancient and modern Chinese healing and Taoism together in order to paint a good picture of the background and current practice of his subjects. While the book contains much practical material on Chinese remedies and techniques, it also underlines the Chinese emphasis upon prevention."
Last year I read "You: The Owners Manual" by Oz and Rosien. Great book! Really helped me get inside what makes my body work and not work. I developed my own understanding of what would help me live a longer, healthier life. I then applied that knowledge to create a sound, doable plan for my diet, exercise and other life related choices. Since then, I have lost 25 pounds (down to 167) and sleep better than ever.
The information is easy to understand. At times, the jokes and cartoons can be a little corny, but it grows on you (and is certainly better than reading textbook like material on the subject).
There are a few follow up books, like "You: On A Diet" that I have not yet read, but assume are good.
Happy holidays!
Kind of a different path here, but I would suggest The Heart of the Antarctic: The Story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907 -1909
It's the story of Captain Ernest Shackleton, who led the first expedition to Antarctica. The best story of endurance I have ever read.
The one book that combines all of these with some practical tools and recipes is Adam Kelinson's The Athlete's Plate. This book recreates the understanding of what nutrition really is and how to seamlessly blend it into anyone's life. If you don't have it, you should.
"Power Eating" by Susan Kleiner is my go-to book for nutrition questions.
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


text:
After several votes, the Colorado Springs City Council has approved a new water saver ordinance. On Tuesday, members heard the first reading on regulations that will determine how and when customers will water this summer.
If it passes on second reading, this season, we will start off exactly where last season ended with Stage Two water restrictions and twice-a-week watering.
There was a lot of back-and-forth at City Council Tuesday. Three motions failed, before a majority could agree on what water restrictions should look like. But here's what they came up with:
"City Council made a very responsible decision regarding the water shortage ordinance." This man wanted restrictions to start off even stricter, then let up, if enough water is available. "I think we can start slow, and then we can put it down a little faster if resources are available."
Colorado Springs Utilities ran through several different models to study water usage, and engineers have looked at the forecasts. CSU official Anna Seder says they are confident that starting at Stage Two Level B is the appropriate approach in mid-April.
Many of those against water restrictions work in the so-called "green industry"---landscapers and turf growers. If they can't plant sod, they can't make money. And one version of the ordinance threatened to take away as much as four months or half of their season.
"That's part of the reason we have a lot of fear about going into this year is that we only lost a month last year and lost 20 percent of our normal season," said Craig Giesbrecht of the Green Belt Turf Farm.
But after a lunchtime compromise, the "green industry" was able to get back one month. Giesbrecht says it's not a huge victory, but one they can live with. "That's exactly what were in this for right now is survival, and this today is one step closer to that for sure."
The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for March 25. If it passes, the new water schedule will begin April 15.
For more information, go to the Colorado Springs Utilities web site: Water Saver Program
Extended Web Coverage
Colorado Springs Water Restriction Stages
Normal Stage
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Source: www.csu.org (Colorado Springs Utilities Web site) contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BOSTON, Mass.--Reigning Little East Women's Soccer Coach of the Year Amy Zombeck and her staff announced their 2013 roster Monday morning, as the Beacons prepare to start their season Friday afternoon against the University of New England. The Beacons, fresh off their first ever Little East Conference Regular Season and Little East Conference Tournament Titles, bring back all but six players from a squad that finished 18-3-0 in 2012 and made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The 2013 team features seven returning starters, including all five of the team's Little East Conference All Conference honorees. In addition to their 14 returners, Zombeck and her staff also added 10 new faces, including a mix of transfers and true freshman.
Click on the player's names to reach their bios and on click play on their videos to learn a little bit more about the players. All of the videos on display can also be found at the bottom of each individual player's bio on the team's roster page.
|#0 Jess Charette
|#1 Dani Perkins
|#2 Kara Peters
|#3 Tayla Andrews
|#4 Andreina Tuccella
|#5 Brittany Castillo
|#6 Dani Beane
|#7 Alli Modzelewski
|#8 Ericka Garufi
|#9 Stephanie Bourgeois
|#10 Kylie Kilmain
|#11 Amanda Pugliese
|#12 Krista Ledin
|#14 Cindy Cortes Puentes
|#16 Alexandria Levesque
|#17 KK DaCosta
|#18 Julie Nutting
|#19 Hannah Lear
|#21 Sam Cristoforo
|#22 Rachel Fasanello
|#23 Sam Bendick
|#24 Leah Gilbert
|#26 Arielle Whipple
|#30 Kristen Spain


text:
The Indiana Gators '00 team will be the Indiana Gators - 16U Streeval.
We will be foregoing our 2nd year of 14U eligibility and moving up to the 16U level for the 2014 - 2015 season.
We will play a very competitive fall schedule which will begin 8/29/14 at the Louisville Slugger Classic showcase tournament and will conclude with the Scenic City Showcase tournament in Chattanooga, TN in November. We will be playing approximately 5-6 fall tournaments which will include both showcase tournaments as well as non-showcase tournaments.
We will be having tryouts 8/2/14 and 8/9/14 time and location TBD. If you are interested in a private tryout for the upcoming season, please use the contact information below.
We will be looking at '00, '99 and '98 DOB's for the upcoming season and all positions are open for tryouts.
If you have any questions, would like more information or would like to schedule a private tryout please contact:
Holli Streeval, Head Coach
Indiana Gators
You can also register for tryouts at www.indianagators.com
If interested, please go to www.indianagators.com and fill out the pre-registration information.
www.indianagators.com for more information
ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


text:
Transfer students are encouraged to apply to Smith College, a private, competitive, liberal arts college for women located in western Massachusetts. In order to make the transition as smooth as possible, Collaborative Admission Agreements provide guidelines for admission and credit. Additional agreements will be listed as they are completed.
While we have a limited number of collaborative admission agreements from community colleges that send us a large number of applications, we welcome applicants from all community colleges as well as four year colleges and universities. All prospects can consult these agreements to get a sense of which courses may transfer to Smith.
Click the links to download or view the collaborative agreements per institution.
Cottey College
Greenfield Community College
Holyoke Community College
Santa Monica College
Scholarshipsand Grants
Alumnae Interviews
Visiting YearPrograms
Meet our Staff
Request MoreInformation


text:
Hi guys,
I've been using PS3 media server to stream between my PS3 and my PC for more than half a year, and
I think it's a really cool program. I want to contribute in a way as I have some time available in the next few months.
Right now I am a Cs Master student in Switzerland. I've written several programs during projects or internships, and my
skills in C, C++ and Java are pretty decent. One internship I did involved working with the FFMPEG library, while
another involved writing a customized video player with Qt. Most of my projects at college were in Java .
I've also used scripting a bit, mostly unix shell, sometimes Perl or python.
I am doing my thesis which is mostly theoretical. I need to do some programming on a day to day basis just to stay sharp
and not be crushed during future interviews. So if there is something to work on, I will be glad to help.


text: The holidays are almost upon us, and you might be concerned about the state of your house. Over at Hometalk, users have declared that they're most worried about their living rooms, which isn't a big surprise: that's the room where you'll be spending a lot of social time this fall and winter. See full article.


text: The Center for Historic Preservation hosted the First Undergraduate Historic Preservation Education Symposium on June 10-12 at the University of Mary Washington. The symposium brought together faculty from undergraduate preservation institutions from across the United States. Topics of discussion were focused on curriculum, pedagogy, and student placement. There are many programs teaching historic preservation in America, the vast majority of them at the graduate level. However, although there are only eight undergraduate programs, they graduate many more students. Therefore, understanding the specific issues in teaching historic preservation to undergraduates is of particular interest. Who are these students? How and what are they taught? What are the emerging issues in teaching this population? This was the topic of the symposium, which was the first meeting of its kind. It served to create a community and start a conversation so that preservation educators can learn from each … [Read more...]


text:
Your browser doesn't have support for real-time updates. Please install flash or upgrade your browser.
Terengganu is one of Malaysia's east coast states, endowed with natural wealth, exotic islands and pristine beaches and crystal clear waters, quaint traditional villages and a heritage of culture and history. It has a land area of 12,995sq kilometres and 225 kilometres of coastline. Terengganu has a population of around 1million, while Malaysia has a population of 28million. The venue of the Monsoon Cup – Pulau Duyong is the ideal setting for this match race, where international sailing enthusiasts and visitors will be able to enjoy the excitement and competition in the Cup, in addition to experiencing the myriad of cultural, culinary and tourist activities that are abound in Terengganu. Now in its eighth year, the Monsoon Cup has gained prominent status on the World Tour, winning the "Best Event" status twice. It offers the highest prize purse on the Tour, MYR 1.475million (approx USD 475,000), with the winner set to earn MYR 310,000 (approx USD100,000) The economic objectives include making the Monsoon Cup a catalyst for development in the state and to create economic opportunities in services and manufacturing sectors related to the event. Among them are hotels, tourism, restaurants, boat-making, food supplies, textiles and souvenirs.


text:
EVANSVILLE, Ind - All the meticulous preparation, from film study to practice and spending time in the training room, comes down to this one game. No. 7 West Liberty (31-3) and No. 20 Central Missouri (29-5) meet at 3 p.m. today at the Ford Center for the right to call themselves NCAA Division II men's basketball champions.
"The thought of playing for a national title is great, but winning one would be even better," West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield said prior to the team's practice Friday morning. "Our guys are excited for it, but I think they are staying focused on the game, which is the important thing."
"It's two really good teams that wouldn't be in this position if they weren't playing good basketball right now."
Article Photos
AP Photo
West Liberty celebrate their semifinal win over South Carolina Aike at the NCAA Division II?National Championship Tournament at Evansville, Ind. The Hilltoppers meet Central Missouri for the title today.
The Hilltoppers used a stifling defensive effort and 30 points off the bench from Shawn Dyer to slay giant South Carolina-Aiken late Thursday night in the semifinals, immediately after T.J. White's layup with a second left had given the Mules a 71-69 victory against top-ranked Metro State.
"If I didn't know (Thursday) night that I had to play them, I would have enjoyed watching them," said UCM coach Kim Anderson, who was the 1977 Big 8 Player of the Year at Missouri. "They've certainly had a great run, and not just this year. It's a great challenge.
"A lot of teams you go through and say 'this guy you don't have to guard quite as much.' They have seven guys in double figures and they all shoot very well from the 3."
Fact Box
Game Info
* Who: No. 7 West Liberty (31-3)?vs. No. 20 Central Missouri (29-5)
* What: Men's Division II?national championship
* When: 3 p.m.
* Where: Ford Center, Evansville, Ind.
West Liberty, which has improved its Elite 8 record to 18-5 (the best winning percentage of any D-II program), has had to battle through a meat grinder to get to this point. The Hilltoppers' last four victories have come against the Nos. 15, 2, 8 and 5 teams in the country.
"Every game has been a fight from the start to the finish and we haven't had a chance to relax," Crutchfield said. "I think (we're) better in those situations. When you get to this level the game is almost assured of being that way. "You're going to be in the last five minutes wondering who is going to win the game.
"Our guys feel that right now and know that's how it's going to be."
Anderson hopes that is the case. The Central Missouri coach has studied WLU extensively and doesn't know if there are any real weaknesses.
"The thing is, we've gone back and we see what they do. We've played against teams that do some of the things they do, but haven't done them as well," Anderson said. "We're going to make mistakes and turn it over, but we can't turn it over four times in a row.
"That's where they do a great job - they strike and make their runs that way."
The Mules, who were crowned national champions in 1984, are a well-balanced team that features a pair of big men in Dillon Deck and Brennen Hughes, who have proven to be a tough matchup for everyone during this tournament run. The 6-foot-9 Deck averages a team-leading 13.7 points to go along with 5.4 rebounds, while Hughes, a junior, comes off the bench.
"We've beaten some very good teams to get here and we're capable of playing at that level," Crutchfield said. "For us to win a national championship, we are going to have to be clicking on all cylinders as they say.
"The variables that we can control, we're doing everything we can."
Charles Hammork and Daylen Robinson both average 12.9 points for CMU, and combined for 27 in the victoryu against Metro.
"This is a game of contrasting styles," Anderson said. "We're not a slow-down team by any means, but they like to create possessions and they like to score points.
"They average over a hundred a game and we're giving up 67 or 68, so something is going to have to give. It should be an exciting game."
West Liberty is paced by consensus All-America point guard Cedric Harris, with his 17.8 points and six assists per game. Dyer (14.8) and C.J. Hester (14.3) closely follow, while Devin Hoehn (12.0), Keene Cockburn (11.6), Bubby Goodwin (10.8) and Seger Bonifant (10.6) round out seven double-digit scorers.
"It's exciting for these guys, for us and for our fans back in West Liberty, and even in other parts of West Virginia," Crutchfield said. "You do what you can to rest and get prepared and that's what we're doing."


text:
- Mar 20:
- San Jose State hate crime case: Black student files $5 million claim
- Dec 6:
- Mercury News editorial: LaDoris Cordell a good choice for San Jose State task force
- Dec 5:
- San Jose State launches dorm hate crime probe
- Nov 26:
- San Jose State racism, described by black students
- San Jose State study: Black students described campus racism years before hate-crime case
- Nov 25:
- LaDoris Cordell: Hate crimes alleged at San Jose State should be charged as felonies
SAN JOSE -- San Jose State waited too long -- five weeks -- to discipline students accused of racially bullying their black roommate last fall, the head of a racial bias panel wrote in an initial recommendation.
"The swiftness of action by the University in response to misconduct sends a message to the campus community that these behaviors are not tolerated," wrote former Judge LaDoris Cordell. "When the response is a delayed one, the message is that the particular conduct is really not so bad."
Cordell heads a Special Task Force on Racial Discrimination convened by San Jose State in response to the alleged hate crime, in which freshmen called their black roommate racist nicknames, barricaded him in his room and fastened a bicycle lock around his neck.
Cordell and other task force members submitted initial proposals to discuss publicly Thursday evening.
The proposed recommendations call for better-staffed residence halls; more diversity training of employees and students; a mobile app for reporting hate crimes; a more diverse faculty; better communication with the campus president; and further study of campus climate and the academic challenges of black and Latino male students, among other changes.
The task force is scheduled to meet two more times after Thursday -- April 3 and 17 -- before releasing a final report about ways the campus can be made a healthier and more welcoming place for all students.
San Jose State spokeswoman Pat Lopes-Harris declined to comment on any of the suggestions. "It would be premature to comment on specific items while the task force is engaged in its work," she said in a written statement.
In an interview, Cordell said hate crimes happen everywhere, and that other institutions confronting similarly painful incidents should follow San Jose State's lead.
"We're doing something that most universities never do, which is put everything out in the open," she said. "It's been very good, very healthy."
State lawmakers are watching the campus, too. On Friday afternoon at San Jose State, the state Legislature's Select Committee on Campus Climate will hold its first of four hearings, led by Assemblywoman Shirley N. Weber, D-San Diego.
In Cordell's critique, she notes that the black freshmen's parents reported their suspicions on Oct. 13, but that the students weren't suspended until Nov. 20.
Cordell also recommends the university have two resident advisers -- students who live and work in the residence halls -- for every 50 students instead of one, and train them to recognize controversial or hate symbols.
The recommendation on hate symbols touched on one of the biggest questions about the case: Before campus employees suspected bullying, some of the alleged perpetrators had displayed a Confederate flag in a bedroom window that was visible to those walking outside the residence hall.
Tipped off by complaints, members of the housing staff asked the students to take it down, but they did not immediately investigate further; they also didn't realize an African-American student lived in the suite, according to a recent fact-finding report written by attorney Myron Moye. His report was released last month.
"The initial display of a Confederate flag in the window of the students' private bedroom should have, but did not, alert staff to the larger problem in the suite. It is also disconcerting that 'the display of controversial items was not an uncommon occurrence,'" Cordell wrote, citing a line from Moye's report.
Moye's report also noted that the bullied student was reluctant to report the abuse, telling friends he would prefer to handle things himself.
It found that the university did in some respects act swiftly and appropriately after residence hall staff learned about the extent of the bullying, which took place over several weeks in the fall semester.
Moye did note, however, that President Mo Qayoumi did not learn about the situation until Nov. 20, just as the district attorney's office filed misdemeanor hate crime and battery charges against the black freshman's alleged tormentors.
The committee meets from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Engineering Building, room 285/287.
Follow Katy Murphy at Twitter.com/katymurphy.


text:
WAYNESBORO — Waynesboro police are investigating shots fired into an occupied home on West Second Street around 8 p.m. Monday.
No injuries were reported. When police arrived on the scene, they found that a parked vehicle had been hit by several bullets.
About five additional shots were also heard near West North Street Monday night.
There are no suspects at this time, and the investigation is continuing. Police will release more information when available.
Location, ST | website.com


text:
NATCHITOCHES, La. – An unearned run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth frame helped Northwestern State seal their first conference victory of the season over the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team, 3-0, Friday night at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.
The Islanders (5-12, 1-2) fell behind in the first inning and couldn't recover, dropping their first conference road game of the season. Junior Meagan McKinney and sophomore Jamise Jackson tallied the Islanders only two hits of the game while Jordan Trujillo (3-4) took the loss in the circle.
In six innings of work, the junior allowed four hits, three runs and two walks while striking out six batters.
Northwestern State (11-14, 1-0) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame. Leadoff batter Tara McKenney tacked on the Lady Demons first hit of the game with a double to left center. McKenney advanced to third on an error before scoring Northwestern State's first run of the game on a balk by Trujillo.
The Islanders put runners on the corners in the top of the fourth but was unable to execute. Mckinney singled to shortstop to start things off for the Islanders' bats and advanced to second on her first steal of the season. Sandy Schumann followed by reaching first on an error by third baseman Tiffany Ward, but the Islanders were left stranded on a groundout.
Trujillo put together a strong fourth inning, retiring all three batters she faced. However, the Islanders were unable to get anything going in the fifth before Northwestern State padded the lead to 3-0 in the bottom frame.
Cheyenne DeLaGarza started the inning off with a walk before Kyle Roos blasted a two-run home run to left center on a 1-1 pitch. Blair Beard followed suit with a single to left field and stole second, but the Islanders were able to escape the inning with a pop up to Schumann at second base.
Jackson tallied the Islanders second hit of the game in the top of the sixth with a single to right field, but the Lady Demons' defense came through to stop any Islanders' from scoring.
Brooke Boening (3-1) picked up her first conference win of the season in seven innings. She limited the Islanders to just two hits while striking out three and walking one.
The Islanders will look to bounce back tomorrow against the Lady Demons in a 12 p.m. contest at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.
For the latest on Islanders Softball, like the team on Facebook (Islanders Softball), follow them on Twitter (@IslandersSB) and visit www.GoIslanders.com.


text:
Are the 70 percent of the developing world's adult population with no formal bank account doomed to a life of economic uncertainty and financial illiteracy? If a woman's culture dictates that she should always put her family's financial needs ahead of her own, can she learn to set aside money for her own retirement without feeling guilty?
These are just some of the complex issues raised at the seventh annual Financial Literacy and Education Summit hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and Visa Inc. Renowned U.S. and international financial experts and journalists led a lively discussion and fielded Twitter questions from roughly 2,000 participants around the theme, "Improving Women's Financial Literacy & Capabilities Globally."
Fascinating details revealed include:
Richard Cordray, Director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, noted that "a large majority of K-12 teachers say that personal finance should be taught in school, yet less than a third say they've taught lessons about money, and more than half feel unqualified to teach their state's financial literacy standards."
Linah Mohohlo, Governor, Bank of Botswana, emphasized that it's not only important to teach women about money management, but also to teach them activities to avoid such as Ponzi schemes or lending money to people without setting repayment and interest terms.
Bernie Ripoll, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Australia, added that women should feel empowered to ask questions or say no if they're asked to invest in something they don't understand.
According to South African Financial Journalist Maya Fischer-French, among the biggest financial hurdles an overwhelming number of women in her country face is their status as single mothers around 56 percent. Of those, only about 21 percent can rely on financial help from their children's fathers.
On the question of whether financial literacy hinges on access to traditional bank accounts, Egyptian Journalist Amira Salah-Ahmend said roughly 90 percent of the Egyptian population is unbanked, meaning most of their transactions are unregulated and therefore more risky.
Mexican Journalist Adina Chelminsky added that many third-world people have much easier access to credit through informal lending channels than to bank products. "The idea is not to formalize all this informal lending, but rather for banks and governments to think outside the box and develop new products that cater to women who have minimal savings," she said.
The panelists shared some alternative financing methods that are already in place and thriving:
Microfinance, where organizations like Kiva make small loans to people who can't get credit from traditional banks, is helping women achieve financial stability in many underdeveloped nations. For example, a young woman in Pakistan or Mexico can now take out a microloan to buy a sewing machine, thereby creating her own thriving business.
Also in Pakistan, a large telecommunications company has partnered with a microfinancer to provide "branchless banking" via mobile phone technology to people far removed from banks. "We've got 45,000 agents transacting this kind of business now compared to only 13,000 in the branch network," explained Yaseen Anwar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan.
Bottom line: Women throughout the world face unique economic and financial literacy challenges. The key is for governments, financial institutions, educators and entrepreneurs to work together to devise financial tools and educational materials that can reach the female half of the world's population the younger, the better.
To watch a free webcast of the 2013 Financial Literacy and Education Summit, visit www.practicalmoneyskills.com.
Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs.


text:
Will college financial aid consultants help you find a deal?
|Will financial aid consultants help you find a deal on college? (Rick Nease/Detroit Free Press/MCT)
"The traditional model of 'get into the best college you can, and then figure out how to pay for it,' doesn't work anymore," says Kal Chany, author of "Paying for College Without Going Broke" ($16.99 at Books-A-Million, www.booksamillion.com) and head of Campus Consultants, which offers a $1,550 service to help families get the best financial aid packages. With higher education being so expensive and the financial aid system so complicated and ever changing, he says a professional financial aid consultant can help families navigate this process to get the best deals.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the form the government uses to determine loans and grants, should be submitted as early as Jan. 1 (ideally by Feb. 15, and definitely no later than March 1) of the student's senior year of high school. However, Chany advises families to seek out expert help during the student's junior year in high school to identify schools to apply to and to make financial moves that can affect aid packages. "If you come to me after Jan. 1 of the junior year, it is like coming to a doctor after you've been identified as having stage four cancer _ there isn't a whole lot you can do at that point," Chany says.
High-end services such as Chany's offer a variety of benefits, including strategies for maximizing eligibility. Examples include selling assets such as stocks, funds and real estate before Jan. 1 of your student's junior year of high school (because that calendar year's tax returns are what are considered for his or her freshman year in college). Another tip is to schedule any elective or postponable medical procedures for after Jan. 1 of that junior year, if applying for schools that consider family members' medical hardships in their financial packages.
But Chany says that the other value is in the form of broader strategizing. For example, he'll help you identify second- and third-tier schools that may offer better talent-based scholarships than higher-ranked schools to which your student may be accepted.
Chany likens his service to that of a certified public accountant who spends his or her days navigating the complicated and often arcane tax system to advocate for the best tax bill for the client. Likewise, his expertise can help families work within the rules of the process to get the best financial aid package they qualify for. "You have to do a cost-benefit analysis, but in most cases, it makes sense," he says. "But if you are applying to a community college, it doesn't make sense to hire me."
Jim Simmons of Menlo Park, Calif., hired Chany for the youngest of his two sons, both of whom attended Ivy League schools. He was so impressed with the value of the service, which he said netted savings of "several times the fee," that he hired Chany each of the four years his youngest son attended university. "Applying for college requires so much money, and there are so many rules and details involved that there is no way an average person can know everything," Simmons says.
But not everyone agrees that such services are a great value. "Many of these consultants do nothing more than send you a form they created to collect info to complete the form on your behalf, and in some cases they introduce delays or errors or encourage you to provide false information," says Mark Kantrowitz, the publisher of financial aid websites Fastweb and FinAid! and author of "Secrets to Winning a Scholarship" ($9.95 at Amazon, www.amazon.com). "If they charge more than $100 or $200, you are probably better off using that money to pay for college."
Kantrowitz does say that some services can be helpful in ensuring complete filing of the FAFSA.
Note: Most universities use the FAFSA to determine their own financial aid packages.
How to find a qualified financial aid consultant:
_ Get a referral from another parent who was happy with the service he or she used.
_ Ask the consultant whether he or she has relevant experience working in a financial aid office at a college or university. Other experts are often CPAs or financial advisers.
_ Go for fee-only services, not those that sell other products such as annuities or life insurance.
_ Be wary if the consultant refuses to sign the line on the FAFSA for the "paid preparer." If errors are made or illegal practices used, the consultant can be held responsible _ but only if he or she signs.
_ Avoid services that guarantee savings.
Follow Us
Post a reader commentWe encourage your feedback and dialog.
Please be civil and respectful.
If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican.
Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.
Log In
|Register / Forgotten Password?
- We give a 'hoot and hurrah' who's pope
- Harwinton home a trendsetter
- Frumpy Middle-Aged Mom: Our family dinners last for two seconds
- Mom's calming app for autistic children is finalist in contest
- Rainy day pre-emptive strikes — and quick fixes
- Dealing with compulsive talkers
- Rejoice in Hartford's Jewish Film Fest
- Here's how to keep your passwords safe and accessible
- Google laptop impressive, but not for everyone
- Texas salesman carves out time for eagle art


text:
Princeton, NJ, September 7, 2012–Princeton Theological Seminary began its 201st academic year with the Academic Convocation on Wednesday, September 5 in Miller Chapel. Dr. James Moorhead, the Seminary's Mary McIntosh Bridge Professor of American Church History, gave the convocation address, "Heritage and Hope." Classes began on Thursday, September 6, and the Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated on Friday, September 7. President Iain Torrance officiated, and Dr. Yolanda Pierce, the Elmer G. Homrighausen Associate Professor of African American Religion and Literature, preached a sermon titled "Are You the One?"
Here is a snapshot of the new class:
This year's 134 entering Master of Divinity degree students were chosen from a pool of 312 applicants. The Master of Divinity degree is the basic professional degree for ministry.
Of the new 134 M.Div. students, 49 are Presbyterian, with many other denominations represented. • The new M.Div. class includes 17 African American students, 3 Hispanic students, 16 Asian students and Pacific Islanders, and 6 who identify themselves as two or more ethnicities.
The median age of the entering M.Div. class is 26; 75 of the students are male, and 59 are female.
Five new students have entered the Master of Arts program, twenty-five have entered the Master of Theology program, and eleven have entered the Doctor of Philosophy program. Seven new students will pursue a dual M.Div./M.A. degree in either education or youth ministry.
This year brings an increase of three percent from 2011 in the number of new students beginning their studies at Princeton Seminary.
The entering class includes seventeen international students, from Canada, Egypt, Germany, Great Britain, India, South Korea, Liberia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Princeton Seminary's total student body is 500.
Princeton Seminary was established in 1812 by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church as a post-graduate professional school of theology. Currently celebrating its Bicentennial, Princeton is the largest Presbyterian seminary in the country, with more than 500 students in six graduate degree programs.
© Princeton Theological Seminary P.O. Box 821, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08542-0803, 609.921.8300 An Institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)PTS Calendars | A to Z Index | Information Technology | Trustees Website
Terms & Conditions | Web Privacy


text:
Tuscaloosa man scores 28-inch curly fry at Arby's
Published: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 6:42 p.m.
If you like French Fries then you're sure to relish this one.
Tuscaloosa native Gary Young scored what he calls a "one-in-a-million" curly fry at an Arby's in Cottondale on Oct. 4. Young, who resisted digging into his fries on the drive home, discovered the 28-inch french-fried potato with his beef and cheddar meal.
"I was shocked," he said. "That's like the biggest fry I've ever seen. I thought it was a snake."
Surprisingly, Young has resisted chomping into his tasty find, deciding instead to store it in a Ziploc bag in his refrigerator.
"I'm gonna try and contact the Guinees Book of World Records," he said.
Unfortunately for Young, his elongated spud may not go the distance.
In February, the Huffington Post reported that Kim Medford received a 38-inch curly fry in her order from an Arby's in Asheville, N.C. However, according the World Record Academy, the current record is held by John Benbenek, who discovered a 34-inch french fry with his meal at Taffy's Hot Dog Stand in Buffalo, N.Y.
"Well," Young said,"it's definitely the biggest one in Tuscaloosa, and that's all I really care about."
Reach Lyons Yellin at email@example.com or 205-722-0192.Tuscaloosa News coverage on Facebook Follow @LyonsYellin Tweet to @LyonsYellin
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The Coast Guard says an Alaska man arrested in last year's shooting deaths of two employees at a Coast Guard communications station on Kodiak Island was a co-worker of the victims.
The U.S. attorney's office said Friday that James Michael Wells of Kodiak is accused in a federal murder complaint of killing Petty Officer 1st Class James Hopkins and retired Chief Boatswain's Mate Richard Belisle on April 12, 2012.
Coast Guard spokeswoman Sara Francis confirms that "Jim Wells" worked as a civilian Coast Guard employee at the communications station at that time. She said she didn't know his current employment status.
She referred other questions to the U.S. attorney's office, which didn't immediately return calls.
An FBI spokesman said late Friday he couldn't discuss specifics of the case because the criminal complaint was sealed.
An Associated Press phone message left at a Kodiak phone number listed for Wells was not returned.


text:
Week in Review: Creating Value Through Innovation
Week in Review: Creating Value Through Innovation
01.11.13 | By
With thousands of medicines currently in development, innovation will continue to be an important topic across 2013. This week, PhRMA President and CEO John Castellani discussed priorities for the industry in a Chain Drug Review piece, emphasizing the endless possibilities that exist by realizing the long-term value created by biopharmaceutical innovation.
"America leads the world in medical innovation. We have an unmatched ecosystem of private and public partners - biopharmaceutical companies, start-up firms, academic institutions, government agencies, venture capitalists and more - all playing symbiotic roles to advance science and bring new health care solutions to patients. It is a resource we can't take for granted," Castellani said in his post.
Along the lines of groundbreaking innovation, Grady Forrer discussed how Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear are working on a potential new drug for hearing loss that seems to have helped regenerate damaged minute sensory hair cells in the inner ear of mice. Although the drug approval process is long, and treatment for deafness may not happen, what is learned from this work will make an important contribution to fighting hearing impairment.
Additionally, we noted FDA approval of New Molecular Entities (NMEs) in 2012 because this represented the highest number the agency had approved in 16 years. To continue this trend, it is essential to have public policies that support and encourage innovation, in addition to an efficient, consistent and predictable science-based regulatory system.
The innovation dialogue will continue with the release of the Medicines in Development report on biotechnology and biologics at the end of the month. The report will show how medicines developed through biological processes are helping to treat individuals suffering from cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases.
By all accounts, 2013 is gearing up to be an exciting year for the industry and we can't wait to share it with you. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts and observations in the comments section below.


text:
Another Budget Deal Bites the Dust
The small group of Republican senators who had been meeting with the White House on budget matters called it quits on Thursday. They were known as the "Dinner Caucus." In the end, they got less accomplished than the "Breakfast Club."
Their fate, though, was predictable. The goal they were pursuing – a big, blockbuster, bipartisan, budget deal – had been the goal of many in the past three years, all with similar results. No agreement on taxes. No agreement on spending cuts. Same song, different band.
Let's review the obituaries of other efforts to forge a budget deal:
1.) Simpson/Bowles: Formed in 2010, this group shocked many by putting together a bipartisan deficit-reduction plan that combined tax increases and spending cuts. Liberal Democrats said they would support entitlement changes to Medicare and Social Security and conservative Republicans said they would accept tax increases. The proposal was written by Democrat Erskine Bowles and Republican Alan Simpson, and had broad corporate support.
What happened: The group received more support than expected in December 2010, but not enough to secure a vote in Congress. The White House gave it a lukewarm reception, and House Republicans showed little interest. It would seemingly have nine lives, coming back again and again, but it never won support from political leaders.
2.) Biden/Cantor: In May 2011, as the White House and Congress eyed a big summer showdown over the debt ceiling, Vice President Joe Biden and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) started talks with other policy makers aimed at putting together a large deficit-reduction deal.
What happened: Their goal was to get a big deal that would give everyone cover to raise the debt ceiling. The talks made some progress. They took aim at low-hanging fruit initially, but never really made it to the hard stuff like taxes. Eventually President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) started their own talks, and the Biden/Cantor effort fizzled.
3.) Obama/Boehner: This was the group that probably came as close to a deal as any other. In July 2011, Messrs. Obama and Boehner spent several weeks locked in discussions, trying to find a way to lock in a large deficit-reduction deal. The White House was willing to consider large entitlement changes, like raising the Medicare retirement age, and Mr. Boehner was considering a tax-reform plan that would raise close to $800 billion in new revenue over 10 years.
What happened: Depends who you ask. They came close to a deal but never inked one, with both sides pointing fingers over tax revenue. The breakup was acrimonious and poisoned the well for years to come. They settled for a smaller deal, known as the "Budget Control Act," that included the "sequester" spending cuts and put caps on discretionary spending.
4.) Gang of Six: Six U.S. senators – three Democrats and three Republicans – joined forces and tried to push Simpson-Bowles into law. They began meeting in late 2010 and continued meeting through 2011. They met, and met, and met, and met. Eventually, other senators from both parties expressed interest in supporting their efforts, worried that no one else was even trying to put together a budget deal.
What happened: They had a huge meeting with other senators around the time that the Obama/Boehner talks were coming to a head. That meeting led some to think the White House could get a large number of Republican senators to support big tax increases. It injected confusion into the Obama/Boehner talks and sent everyone scurrying. The Gang met several times after that but never really recovered, and despite their efforts, they were never able to bring any package to the Senate floor.
5.) Supercommittee: The Budget Control Act created something that became known as the "Supercommittee," which had several months to try and come up with some way to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years.
What happened: Instead of being a "super" committee, the members were "super" entrenched, and they never came close to an agreement.
6.) Cooper/LaTourette: In March 2012, Reps. Jim Cooper (D., Tenn.) and Steve LaTourette (R., Ohio) tried to ambush partisan budget proposals by forcing a vote on the House floor on a resolution that closely resembled Simpson-Bowles. They thought plenty of lawmakers were fed up with budget bickering and that they could catch "lightning in a bottle," as one of them put it.
What happened: The only thing they caught was egg on their faces. Their budget resolution failed 382-38.
7.) Fiscal Cliff: Fresh off his 2012 re-election, Mr. Obama faced a fiscal storm at the end of December, with tax rates scheduled to increase and large spending cuts set to begin. He pursued – again – a large deficit-reduction deal with Mr. Boehner. The country was watching this time, as more brinksmanship would lead to tax hikes for virtually everyone.
What happened: The White House said it would accept some entitlement cuts but insisted that tax rates would have to go up on wealthier Americans. Many House Republicans knew they would have to budge on taxes, but they said they would accept the elimination of certain tax loopholes, not higher rates. Talks between Messrs. Obama and Boehner broke down, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) eventually rode into to rescue all sides. The deal was small, though, minimizing the tax increases and failing to deal with any entitlement changes.
8.) Dinner Caucus: After the fiscal-cliff mess, Mr. Obama started having dinners with small groups of Senate Republicans. Many lawmakers came away from the talks thinking that perhaps this could be the sort of slow, stress-free environment that would lead to a deal.
What happened: It ended up being the sort of slow, stress-free environment that leads to nothing. The White House wanted to eliminate certain tax loopholes to raise revenue as part of the deal, and Republicans wouldn't agree.


text:
- Jan 17:
- 2014: Intel to cut 5 percent of workforce amid PC slump
- Biz Break: Intel to cut more than 5,000 jobs as revenues stagnate
- Jan 16:
- Biz Break: Intel declined in 2013, doesn't expect growth this year
- Jan 14:
- New Intel plant in Arizona remains vacant
- Intel to release earnings amid doubts about PC industry
SANTA CLARA -- Chipmaking goliath Intel (INTC) reported quarterly sales Thursday that slightly beat Wall Street estimates but earnings that were slightly lower than analysts had expected. The company predicted little change in sales this year.
Intel said it made a profit of $2.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2013 -- an increase of 6 percent from the same period in 2012 -- and had sales of $13.8 billion, up 3 percent from a year ago. That worked out to earnings of 51 cents a share.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters generally had expected 52 cents a share on sales of $13.7 billion.
For the year, the Santa Clara company's $52.7 billion in sales was down 1 percent and its $9.6 billion profit off 13 percent from the previous year.
The fourth quarter "was a solid finish to a year of transitions," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich concluded in a conference call with analysts. "We are innovating and bringing products to market at a faster pace." However, he said the company's sales of chips for business computers was less than it had anticipated because "we overestimated the rate of recovery among corporate buyers."
Intel predicted its sales this year would be "approximately flat."
Despite its strong cash flow and some other positives, "we believe Intel's market position remains at risk," said Edward Jones analyst William Kreher, noting that he was concerned relatively few tablets include Intel's products.
Intel reported its earnings after the stock market's official close, when its shares were down less than half a percent to $26.54. In early after-hours trading, its stock price was down more than 4 percent.
As the world's biggest chipmaker in terms of revenue and one of Silicon Valley's most legendary corporations, Intel's earnings reports are widely watched as a barometer of the overall tech industry's health. Yet after peaking at $14.2 billion in the third quarter of 2011, its quarterly sales consistently have fallen below that figure.
Some of that is due to the sluggish world economy. However, Intel's chip sales have been particularly hurt by declining sales of personal computers, which mostly run on its powerful x86 microprocessors and, to a much lesser extent, those from Sunnyvale-based Advanced Micro Devices.
Last year, shipments of desktop and notebook PCs containing the two companies' x86 chips "suffered the worst decline ever, falling by about 9 percent to 315 million units worldwide," according to a report by market research firm IC Insights. But the report added that "a modest recovery in personal computers this year is expected to slightly strengthen overall sales growth in microprocessors."
Other experts share that view, concluding recently that PC sales appear to have bottomed out, which is partly why J.P. Morgan analysts Tuesday said they boosted their rating of Intel's stock. In addition, the analysts noted that under Krzanich, who was named CEO in May to replace Paul Otellini, "we believe Intel has taken a realistic outlook on the PC market and its growth expectations for the first time in years."
A similar point was made Wednesday by analysts at BMO Capital Markets. While also boosting their assessment of Intel's stock, they said, "at the very high level, we see the company more willing to accept and address the challenges that the company faces."
With PC sales sluggish at best, Intel has been heavily promoting its chips for use in smartphones and tablets -- a market dominated by other companies using a chip design from British-firm ARM Holdings -- as well as everything from industrial uses to wearable devices. Plus, it is spending billions of dollars to beef up its already industry-leading chip-manufacturing capabilities.
However, some analysts are concerned about how much money Intel is devoting to new plants, fearing some of the facilities may wind up underused. Intel recently put off opening a state-of-the-art Arizona chip plant that President Barack Obama had hailed as an example of U.S. manufacturing prowess during a re-election campaign visit in 2012.
Krzanich said work on the factory began three years ago when the PC market was stronger and the company will delay starting it up "until the demand requirement comes about."
Contact Steve Johnson at 408-920-5043. Follow him at Twitter.com/steveatmercnews.


text:
Garrett the giver
A young boy's gift epitomizes The Giving Partner
Published: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 6:56 p.m.
Garrett is 8 years old.
He had a dog named Pepper.
Garrett loved Pepper and because of that affection, a good heart and wisdom beyond his years, the boy is now a philanthropist, a true partner in giving.
After Pepper became gravely ill, Garrett's family took the pet to Satchel's Last Resort, a "no-kill" shelter in Sarasota that also serves as a hospice of sort for animals facing their dying days.
Garrett felt indebted to Satchel's Last Resort for providing his beloved pet with a place to pass away serenely.
Last week, Garrett repaid that debt.
He walked into the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and -- as part of The Giving Partner's 36-Hour Challenge -- wanted to make a donation on behalf of the organization that cared for Pepper.
Garrett didn't offer a pint-sized donation, however. He wanted to contribute $100 in cash -- all the money in his piggy bank -- to the nonprofit shelter.
The Giving Partner -- a community-wide campaign, organized by the Community Foundation to attract funding for local nonprofit organizations -- doesn't accept cash.
But the folks at the foundation -- touched by the boy's generosity -- found a way to turn the money into one of the 17,626 contributions totaling $2.8 million, all for the benefit of 287 nonprofits serving Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties.
The total of the contributions and the size of many donations were impressive.
But we were moved by the spirit of generosity displayed by such a large number of contributors -- many of whom, like Garrett, gave not out of wealth but of conviction.
The number of individual gifts during this year's 36-hour event increased by nearly 7,000. "It looks like we got a lot more gifts that were smaller this year," Susie Bowie of the foundation told the Herald-Tribune. "People can make a contribution of $25 and still feel like they're part of a community. And who doesn't want to feel like part of a community?"
Welcome to the community of philanthropists, Garrett.
Satchel's Last Resort wasn't the only nonprofit to gain new supporters during The Giving Partner Challenge.
Second Chance-Last Opportunity, based in north Sarasota, provides life-management skills classes to at-risk teens and their low-income or homeless families. The organization benefited from a matching grant this year -- after a Community Foundation donor learned of its mission.
Project Light of Manatee, an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides free English language and literacy instruction to adults, bolstered its modest fundraising efforts through a $3,000 cash prize.
Meanwhile, a long list of organizations reported securing funds from both former and current contributors. For instance, 13 percent of donors to the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center contributed to this vital nonprofit for the first time.
The Giving Partner Challenge did more than raise money and create memorable moments; it led to collaboration between many of the community's nonprofits and created awareness of all their good works -- and the needs that remain unfilled.
What's more, the challenge fostered a lot of fun, as some organizations created light-hearted videos and adopted mascots to promote their serious causes.
The Giving Partner 36-hour Challenge will return next year and, when it does, we hope the community will remember the example set by an 8-year-old boy in memory of his dog, Pepper.
This story appeared in print on page A18
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Please log in or register to manage your account
Model: 542016042 Item: CYO542016042
Vivid colors wash easily from skin and most clothing. Makes painting worry free for teachers and parents. Features a creamy consistency for smooth laydown and brush flow. Assures consistent performance. Non-separating and freeze-thaw stable. Color(s): Blue; Capacity (Volume): 16 oz.
Printerbazaar is a one-stop destination for all your office supplies. From highly durable branded printers to a plethora of accessories, you can get your suitable product at a competitive cost.
At Printerbazaar, we are committed to make your shopping experience hassle-free by conveying the best information. We understand that office related purchasing decisions are vital and thus the right comparisons are necessary before buying.
Crayola® Model Magic Modeling Compound, Natural, 2 lbs.
$21.87$1509 / each
Crayola® Model Magic Modeling Compound, 1 oz each packet, White, 75 oz
$45.58$3054 / each
Crayola® Model Magic Modeling Compound, 1 oz each packet Assorted, 75 oz
$47.43$3320 / each


text:
Integrating Tuxedo Global Transactions across Web Services
By Maurice G on Aug 02, 2013
Global Transactions
A global transaction is a series of service calls where the services involved write to a resource (typically update or create a record in a database), and all updates or creations must be completed or none at all so that no inconsistency exists.
For example, imagine performing a balance transfer from one account to another, and that the information pertaining to those accounts is stored in two different databases. The succession of service calls would be as follows:
withdraw amount from database 1,
deposit amount to database 2,
commit (withdrawal and deposit become effective and are reflected in future balance displays).
Applications running on Oracle Tuxedo, combined with a database resource such as Oracle Database can guarantee what is called in computer science Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation and Durability (or ACID properties).
Web Services
In world more and more connected, Web Services and SOAP standards have been developed to address needs to exchange information irregardless of the system on which it is available. A Web Service is a "public" interface to a business operation that is exposed in a standardized way.
Other standards are developed as needs arise, such as WS-Addressing, WS-ReliableMessaging or WS-Security, and software vendors implement those in order to provide more features.
Such features are usually advertised in service interfaces so that provider and consumer can agree on levels of functionality and automatically adjust interactions. For instance, a service provider may offer a secure version of its services but still allow non-secure consumers to see and use a scaled-down version of the same services, even though they do not implement the full stack of security standards.
The standard that combines Global Transactions and Web Services is WS-AtomicTransaction or WS-AT. Consider the example below:
Each of the different actors in this use-case may be housed in completely different organizations, with their own software, networks and databases. Using Web Services standards ensures that the applications will communicate with each other despite potentially using different software vendors, having different software life-cycles and so on.
The SALT gateway is a Tuxedo system process that adds Web Services support to Tuxedo applications. Tuxedo services can be exposed as Web Services, or Tuxedo client programs can invoke Web Services seamlessly, that is by making it seem like the Web Services are simply other Tuxedo services.
In that spirit, integrating Tuxedo services with Web Services Atomic Transactions is as simple as changing some elements of configuration:
Add a transaction log so a record of prepared transactions is kept, so that in the case of a failure those in-flight transactions can be resolved, usually rolled back but in some cases committed.
In the Tuxedo-to-external Web Service direction, associate a standard policy descriptor to instruct the SALT gateway on what to do when a transaction propagation is requested: mandatory or optional propagation, or no propagation at all (no policy present). This policy file will look as follows:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<wsp:Policy wsp:Name="TransactionalServicePolicy"
<wsat:ATAssertion wsp:Optional="true"/>
When exposing a Tuxedo service as a Web Service, the SALT gateway will generate the proper WSDL containing the WS-AT capabilities. A WS-AT transaction will propagate into Tuxedo and the remote side will coordinate it.
When invoking a Web Service, the assertion will be contained in the remote WSDL, and the SALT utilities used to import the Web Service configuration will process those automatically and generate a WS-AT policy file such as seen above. Then when a transaction is started on the Tuxedo side it can be propagated to the outside, and in this case coordinated by Tuxedo.
It is possible to expand existing applications to Web Services, and of course develop new ones, and take advantage of WS-AT by way of the SALT gateway.
For Oracle Tuxedo, Oracle SALT provides a native Web Services implementation that ties global transactions and Web Services together.
Oracle Tuxedo users are already used to the scalability and high-availability of their applications. Oracle SALT brings Web Services interoperability to Oracle Tuxedo, and does so in a configuration-oriented manner, that is it is not even necessary to modify existing applications or develop new ones in order for them to inter-operate with Web Services.


text:
OAKLAND -- Tommy Milone went where he didn't want to go Saturday night before pitching the A's to a second consecutive 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals at the Coliseum.
After a streak in which they'd gone 8-18 to fall two games under .500, the back-to-back wins over the Royals have the A's back even at 22-22.
"That was Houdini," manager Bob Melvin said in describing Milone's ability to skirt trouble while allowing one run in six innings.
Milone's effort was good enough to enable the A's sluggish offense to rise up against longtime nemesis Ervin Santana and earn the A's lefty a win after five straight losses.
"Houdini?" Milone said, pondering what Melvin said. "Yeah, I definitely did not make it easy on myself."
Down 1-0 in the second, Milone allowed a single and two walks to load the bases with none out. It was a time when the game could have blown up in Milone's face.
Instead, Milone asserted himself, getting a pop fly and back-to-back strikeouts, keeping the game close.
"Tommy stuck to his guns in the second inning," closer Grant Balfour said. "He kept fighting, kept battling. And he kept us in the game in the process. It wasn't his best game, but it was a good one for him to win. In a word, he was resilient."
The A's got even in the sixth inning against Santana on an Eric Sogard double, a wild pitch, a Coco Crisp walk, a sacrifice fly by Jed Lowrie and a two-out bullet of a triple to the deepest part of center field from Brandon Moss.
Afterward, Moss was more interested in talking about Milone than about his own part in the mini-drama. As important as the second inning was, Moss pointed also to the fourth, when a leadoff double and a fly ball gave the Royals a man on third with one out. Milone struck out the next two batters, keeping the A's close.
"Milone was unbelievable," Moss said. "He worked out of jam after jam. There was the bases-loaded, none out. There was the leadoff double. He struggled, but he settled in and pitched his game. And that's what he's capable of."
By the sixth inning, Milone had thrown 111 pitches and was done for the night. But the A's rally in the bottom of the sixth meant those 111 pitches would not go in vain. And Milone was jumping around as if he was back in high school when Moss tripled over Lorenzo Cain's head to bring home what would prove to be the winning run.
"I was jumping up and down, real excited," Milone said.
So too was the sellout crowd of 35,067, lured by a Star Trek-themed evening of postgame fireworks.
They saw Ryan Cook, Sean Doolittle and Balfour throw three innings of scoreless relief to bring the win home.


text:
Quincy, lll., firefighters were battling a large five-alarm fire Friday night, Sept. 6, at the Newcomb Hotel at Fourth and Maine streets in downtown Quincy.
The fire in the vacant Newcomb Hotel was discovered shortly before 9 p.m. Friday.
At one point between 9:15 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., the firefighters were ordered to evacuate the building.
At 9:55 p.m. an announcement was made that the nearby Lincoln Douglas building Apartments at 101 N. Fourth St. would have a mandatory evacuation. Residents were to be taken to the Quincy Senior Center at 639 York by city bus.
At 10 p.m. firefighters announced they were just trying to contain the fire to the Newcomb building.
Traffic was blocked in that area all evening, and at 10:30 p.m. Maine Street was still blocked. Traffic was being rerouted from the Mississippi River bridge.
KHQA-TV reported the building had been named one of Illinois' 10 most-endangered historic buildings.
Location, ST | website.com


text: The best way to learn Polish is with an expert. WyzAnt is the world's leading network of private tutors, helping more students in more places than anyone else. And if you're not happy with your first hour with any new tutor, we'll gladly refund your money. Besides Polish tutors, WyzAnt can also connect you with:


text:
Get an overview of this hotelHotel in Henderson with free breakfast and free airport shuttle
Situated in Henderson, this hotel is 0.6 mi (0.9 km) from St. Rose Dominican Hospital and within 3 mi (5 km) of Rio Secco Golf Club and Desert Willow Golf Resort. The District at Green Valley Ranch is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) away.
Hotel Features
This hotel features an outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a spa tub. Free buffet breakfast is provided, as well as free WiFi in public areas, free self parking, and a free airport shuttle. Other amenities include a 24-hour business center, conference rooms, and a 24-hour front desk.
Room Amenities
All 99 rooms provide conveniences like refrigerators and microwaves, plus free WiFi and TVs with cable channels. Other amenities available to guests include coffee makers, free local calls, and hair dryers.Would you like to give us feedback? Share it! Opens in a new window
Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Hotel3041 Saint Rose Parkway Henderson NV 89052
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to an outdoor pool, Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Hotel provides a spa tub and a fitness center. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. Business amenities consist of a 24-hour business center, limo/town car service, and meeting rooms. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Event facilities measuring 2711 square feet (244 square meters) include conference space. A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary to guests during limited hours. This business-friendly hotel also offers barbecue grills, multilingual staff, and gift shops/newsstands. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Hotel has designated areas for smoking.
- 24-hour business center
- 24-hour front desk
- Free airport transportation
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Computer station
- Conference space
- Conference space size (feet) - 2711
- Conference space size (meters) - 244
- Designated smoking areas
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-out
- Fitness facilities
- Free breakfast
- Free self parking
- Free WiFi
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Luggage storage
- Meeting rooms 7
- Multilingual staff
- Number of floors - 4
- Number of meeting rooms - 5
- Outdoor pool
- RV, bus, truck parking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Spa tub
- Television in common areas
- Total number of rooms - 99
Family Friendly Amenities
- Free Wi-Fi
- Microwave
- Outdoor pool
- Refrigerator
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking, RV, bus, truck parking
Room Amenities
- Air conditioning
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Cable TV service
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Cribs/infant beds (surcharge)
- Daily housekeeping
- Designer toiletries
- Desk
- Free local calls
- Free WiFi
- Hair dryer
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- In-room safe
- Iron/ironing board
- Microwave
- Phone
- Premium TV channels
- Refrigerator
- Television
Where to Eat
Guests are offered a complimentary hot/cold buffet breakfast each morning.
Start your morning with a free hot/cold buffet breakfast, available each day of your stay.
Nearby Things to Do
An outdoor pool and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Personal motorized watercraft on site
- Mountain biking nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 4 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
- Pets stay free
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
Only service animals are allowed
Pets allowed (no fees)
Optional extras
- Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 10 per stay
Hotel Name
- Wingate Henderson
- Wingate Wyndham Henderson
- Wingate Wyndham Hotel Henderson
- Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Hotel Henderson
- Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Hotel
- Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South Henderson
- Best Western Plus St. Rose Pkwy/las Vegas South
- Wingate Hotel Henderson
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the airport. Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.


text:
What is Friends of Scouting?
Friends of Scouting is the annual campaign where the Council asks Scouting families, businesses and civic-minded citizens to support our mission of providing the Scouting program to tens of thousands of young people in the Delaware Valley.
Why should I give to Friends of Scouting?
Friends of Scouting provides roughly one-quarter of the money needed to operate the Cradle of Liberty(COL) Council's Scouting camps, programs and facilities for a calendar year. These camping and training facilities are the "outdoor classrooms" in which Scouts have fun, learn leadership skills and develop into better young men and women. The COL Council spends approximately $200 per Scout each year to deliver these benefits and much more.


text:
Authority: Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs
5202 Distribution of Payrolls | Wright Way Policy
5202.1 General Policy and Operating Procedure for the Distribution of Payrolls
This policy sets forth the concepts under which the university payroll system is administered.
The university's objective is to provide for the timely release of pay advices to employees on scheduled paydays, with minimum inconvenience to employees. Payday for classified staff occurs every other Friday; payday for faculty, unclassified staff, and graduate assistants occurs on the last working day of the month.
Requests for early release of pay cannot be considered. All employees will receive their pay through the direct deposit program (refer to Wright Way Policy 5201).
If the normal pay date falls on a university recognized holiday, pay advices shall be dated and distributed on the last workday prior to that occurrence.
Processing period delays
All time card employees (i.e., those employees paid on the biweekly classified staff payroll) incur a one-week delay from the Friday that time cards are submitted until the day that pay advices are distributed.
For those processing periods during which holidays compress the normal time allotted to prepare payrolls, employees and supervisors may be asked to accelerate the turn-in of time cards to meet pay dates.
An employee who separates from the university shall be paid final wages and remaining entitlements (if any) in a lump sum. Such payment shall be made on the normal pay date for the employee's pay group.
The university shall not grant advance payment of wages or entitlements to employees for any reason.
In instances in which part of a pay period falls in the new year while the majority of the work period was in the previous year, pay advices shall not be available until the new pay period. Since federal law requires that wages be taxed at the time the employee receives payment, not at the time wages are earned, taxes shall be deducted based on the new year's taxing requirements.
When it is necessary for the university to mail and/or deliver pay advices to off-campus locations, the university will use the most reliable delivery service available so that pay advices will be received by employees on a timely basis.
If the university experiences a computer system failure, a natural disaster, or other emergency that disrupts payroll distribution schedules, the university will use its best efforts to make pay available within 72 hours of the affected payday, without regard to holidays or weekends.
5202.2 Release of Pay Advices
A representative from each department/unit is responsible for distributing month-end pay advices to faculty, salaried unclassified staff, and graduate assistants. Month-end pay advices are sent on scheduled paydays to the designated department representative.
A representative from each department/unit is responsible for distributing biweekly pay advices to classified staff working day shifts. Pay advices will be delivered to the representative on scheduled paydays. Classified staff employees who are not scheduled to work on paydays may obtain their pay advices through their departmental representative/supervisor.
5202.3 Employee Exceptions
Pay advices for classified staff members who work evening or night shifts may be available on Thursday afternoon preceding the scheduled payday. A representative from each affected department/unit is responsible for obtaining pay advices.
Pay advices for employees who work at off-campus locations shall be routinely mailed or distributed through other mechanisms such as a courier. Pay advices shall be released to the distribution service in a timely fashion so that employees at off-campus locations shall have pay advices available to them on the scheduled pay date.
An employee who expects to be absent from campus on a scheduled payday should arrange to have his/her pay advice received through his/her respective department/unit.
An employee who is not working on a payday due to his/her assigned work schedule will continue to receive pay advices through his/her department as described in section 5202.2.
If an emergency situation exists, the Office of the Controller may adjust the distribution of pay advices scheduled for the affected pay period.
5202.4 Student Employees
Student employees incur a two-week delay from the Friday that time cards are submitted until the day (Thursday or Friday) that pay is issued. Time cards must be submitted no later than noon on the appropriate Friday.
Student pay advices are distributed by Student Employment in the Office of Career Services, E334 Student Union.
Student pay will be issued between the hours of 8:30 am and 5 pm on the last Thursday and Friday of the pay period.
Students must pick up their own pay and must present valid identification in order to have pay released.
5202.5 Direct Deposit
The university pays all employees by direct deposit (biweekly classified staff payroll, the monthly faculty/salaried unclassified staff payroll, and the student employee payroll). Refer to Wright Way Policy 5201 (Direct Deposit of Pay). Direct deposit is an ongoing procedure and cannot be done on a one-time basis.
5202.6 Payroll Schedule
Employees should contact the Payroll office (775-2249) for a copy of the payroll schedule or view the schedule at http://www.wright.edu/administration/finanserv/controller.htm.


text:
There's a great deal happening in Ireland to see and do this year. So why would you want to have your holiday anywhere else? Here's a look at some of the biggest events happening across the Irish Sea in 2012 which might be well worth a look if you planning a holiday any time soon.
June 30-July 8
Last time this maritime event hit the West of Ireland in 2009, it attracted more than half a million visitors to the city to see the boats taking part in this round-the-world race during a two-week stopover in Ireland.
This time around it promises to be an even bigger affair as the race is scheduled to actually finish in Galway in July. As you're reading this, some of the world's most elite sailors are already out there at sea battling against the elements and the waves after starting out on their journey last October from Alicante in Spain. On their trip, they will take in Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya and Auckland before heading on to Brazil, around Cape Horn and on to Miami, Lisbon and the Bay of Biscay.
But is lucky Galway that has the grand finale to this fine exhibition of ocean going sailing. And with global television audience of some 1.3 billion tuning to see which boat actually crosses the finishing line first, then Galway city is definitely the place to be this summer, if you can make it.
For all the details, go to: www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com.
June 8
OK, we know the torch will be making it way all around Britain this year before arriving at the Olympic Stadium in East London for the start of the London 2012 Games in August, but why not celebrate the fact that it is passing through a bit of Dublin on its journey. You may even get a sense of the atmosphere and building occasion that is affecting many in the UK capital and around Britain just now as we brace ourselves to Let The Games Begin.
The torch is due to spend seven days being carried around the North of Ireland, but thanks to a special dispensation, it is being allowed to make a quick diversion south in the name of peace. The only rule is that no Irish politicians will be allowed to grab hold of the torch as some of vote-grabbing statement – so something of a relief there!
Once the torch arrives in Dublin, the relay is expected to begin at the Garden of Remembrance in the city before heading down O'Connell Street, into Sheriff Street before crossing over the River Liffey via the Samuel Beckett bridge, pass the Irish parliament buildings and on towards Harold's Cross. Then it doubles back towards St Stephen's Green and finally arrives at Merrion Square.
For all the details, go to: www.olympicsport.ie.
NOTRE DAME -v- NAVY, DUBLIN
September 1
Two of the biggest names in American college football, Notre Dame (known as the Fighting Irish) and the US Naval Academy will be slugging it out in the Irish capital. The two teams are known for their sporting rivalry and this years marks the second occasion that they have taken their game to Ireland.
The last time the event happened was 16 years ago and on that occasion they played in Croke Park. Then the Fighting Irish, helped by a good crown behind them, won 54 to 27.
The stage is now set for another influx of fans of the game – American and from everywhere else in the world – as the two teams meet for the 84th consecutive year. This time the game takes place in the city's Aviva Stadium.
For all the details, go to: www.visitdublin.com.
Running throughout 2012
This year mark's 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the ill-fated ship and Cobh – at the time of the launch known as Queenstown – was its last port of call before heading out across the Atlantic and hitting the iceberg. To commemorate the anniversary, Cobh will play host to a series of events, including a commemorative ball at which dishes from the early 20th century will be served, music and entertainment; an exhibition in Cobh Museum; a national tribute on April 11 with a Irish Naval Service fleet review and a flypast by the Irish Air Corps; a vintage fair, a regatta as well as a series of concerts on Spike Island.
There will also be church services to commemorate the event and a two-day series of lectures is also being planned, as well as other events linked to the liner, including a Titanic-themed short film competition.
For all the details, go to: www.titanic100.ie.
July 11-15
Ireland and its capital city has been chosen to host the prestigious EuroScience Open Forum 2012 this year. It's the world's largest science conference and takes place at Dublin's Convention Centre. More than 5,000 delegates from around the world are expected and that number will more than double if you take into account their husbands, wives and partners.


text:
Jesse wrote: Hilarious, a dude from the projects talks like a dude from the projects.
Nothing hits home like a sense of cultural superiority!
Certainly laughing at how some young black kid talks cuts right through any pall that an attempted rape should cast over anything.
I feel I understand everything now. I can see God.
name wrote: it's got nothing to do with race. if you think it does, then that's telling.
Quote: it's ok. you don't have to pretend that you didn't chuckle when he said "..and hide your husbands, cause they'r rapin evertybody out here". it won't turn you into a republican. it won't even mean that you're insensitive. (i promise.)
Jesse wrote: and also he's just some dude speaking with slight idiosyncrasies that are not surprising or unfamiliar to me
mancabbage wrote: the video ain't even my cup of tea, but jesse jumping in the deep end again is predictable, i'm just surprised there's no link to one of his songs on there..
Pretty sure half the reason the dude jumps on trivial shit like this like a fucking kangaroo is more about getting a reaction than anything else, fuck it
mancabbage wrote: You prolly shouldn't admit you like lady sovereign in public much more though, men in white jackets will pop up, force feed you grade A meds and you'll spend the rest of your days in a padded room making sculptures of the mr men out of your toe nails and writing love letters to scooby doo. happened to my mate, not pretty
Flossin wrote: Good for the Dodsons.


text:
Toggle: English / Spanish
Clubfoot is when the foot turns inward and downward. It is a congenital condition, which means it is present at birth.
Talipes equinovarus; Talipes
Clubfoot is the most common congenital disorder of the legs. It can range from mild and flexible to severe and rigid.
The cause is not known, but the condition may be passed down through families in some cases. Risk factors include a family history of the disorder and being male. The condition occurs in about 1 out of every 1,000 live births.
The physical appearance of the foot may vary. One or both feet may be affected.
The foot turns inward and downward at birth, and is difficult to place in the correct position. The calf muscle and foot may be slightly smaller than normal.
The disorder is identified during a physical examination. A foot x-ray may be done.
Treatment may involve moving the foot into the correct position and using a cast to keep it there. This is often done by an orthopedic specialist. Treatment should be started as early as possible -- ideally, shortly after birth -- when it is easiest to reshape the foot.
Gentle stretching and recasting will be done every week to improve the position of the foot. Generally, five to 10 casts are needed. The final cast will stay in place for 3 weeks. After the foot is in the correct position, the child will wear a special brace nearly full time for 3 months. Then, the child will wear the brace at night and during naps for up to 3 years.
Often, the problem is a tightened Achilles tendon, and a simple procedure is needed to release it.
Some severe cases of clubfoot will need surgery if other treatments do not work, or if the problem returns. The child should be monitored by a health care provider until the foot is fully grown. See: Clubfoot repair
The outcome is usually good with treatment.
Some defects may not be completely fixed. However, treatment can improve the appearance and function of the foot. Treatment may be less successful if the clubfoot is linked to other birth disorders.
If your child is being treated for clubfoot, call your health care provider if:
Hosalkar HS, Spiegel DA, Davidson RS. Talipes Equinovarus (Clubfoot). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 666.3.
Beaty JH. Congenital anomalies of the lower extremity. In: Canale ST, Beatty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 26.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch)
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2013 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


text:
For cancellation & refund requests, use this form.
For invoice requests, use this form
For special assistance or in case you experience an issue retrieving your booking, please contact our Service Centre
Please select a destination and/or travel dates
Fares displayed are for a return flight for one person, include taxes and charges and are subject to availability.
Fares displayed are for a one-way flight for one person, include taxes and charges and are subject to availability.
See schedule
Check all airport details, including lounge, ticketing office & transport info.
Naples is a busy, lively city with wide avenues, narrow alleys, beautiful historical buildings and a magnificent bay.
When in Naples, you must visit Castel Nuovo. This castle was built in the 13th century and has three very distinctive dark towers, each with a different shade of grey. The towers' different colours are due to the igneous rocks of which they are built. Museo Archeologico Nazionale, which is one of the world's most important archaeological museums, and Teatro San Carlo, the second biggest theatre in Italy, are well worth a visit.
You can relax in the magnificent Bay of Naples or on the romantic island of Capri. The true charm of Naples is to be found in the narrow alleys overhung by washing, where Italian mamas lean over balconies in the hope of starting a conversation with any passer-by. These alleys are now few in number, but you will find some behind Piazza del Plebiscito.


text:
Enter a search term such as "mobile analytics" or browse our content using the filters above.
That's not only a poor Scrabble score but we also couldn't find any results matching
Check your spelling or try broadening your search.
Sorry about this, there is a problem with our search at the moment.
Please try again later.
Posts tagged with Iphone
Do the Chinese deserve their reputation as copycats in the digital world?
Western brands are constant targets of counterfeiters, often from China.
But in the digital world, does China still deserve its reputation as a copycat?
Three points to consider when developing a mobile app strategy
As mobile adoption continues to flourish, brands are required to incorporate distinct mobile web and app experiences into their mobile strategy.
Safari in iOS9 to make ad blocking easier
The hits just keep coming for advertisers looking to reach consumers through digital ads.
The latest setback for online advertising: the version of Safari that will ship with iOS 9 will make it possible for developers to build ad blocking extensions.
Six ways mobile can ease traveler stress and increase bookings
We've all been there. It's the day of travel and you're scrambling to get to the airport. Tempers are high, boarding passes are scattered, your arms are already sore from lugging that heavy suitcase down the stairs.
But traveler anxiety starts well before the big day, stretching back to the initial stages of the planning process.
During each unique stage of the mobile journey, travelers experience changes in their mindset and behaviors, requiring brands to take a closer look at how to close the gap between what users want and what they are offering on mobile.
14 fascinating APAC digital marketing stats from April 2015
Here it is, folks, our monthly roundup of digital marketing stats from around Asia-Pacific.
This month it includes programmatic advertising, mobile marketing in Australia, India's growing online population, contactless payments, and a whole lot more.
Start Me Up! A profile of social treating app Givvit
Givvit is a new mobile app that enables users to send their friends small gifts, an activity it describes as 'social treating'.
Available on iPhone and Android, the treats include things like boxes of chocolates, flowers, restaurant vouchers, or a pint in your local pub.
The best mobile campaigns from 2014: the expert view
You will have noticed a steady stream of 2014 roundup posts on the blog recently and it's now time for another.
This time I've asked several mobile experts for their opinions on what have been the most impressive campaigns in the past 12 months.
It follows on from a similar post looking at the biggest mobile trends from 2014.
The Body Shop's iPhone app: a decent UX, but several flaws to fix
Here at Econsultancy we've written a lot about how multichannel retailers can use mobile apps to enhance the customer experience.
For example on Friday I reviewed House of Fraser's new Android app, and I've previously reviewed B&Q's mobile loyalty scheme.
Today I thought I'd point the spotlight on Body Shop, which updated its iPhone app in August but has yet to launch an Android version.
The app is marketed in-store and offers several multichannel tools, such as a store locator and barcode scanner.
So I borrowed my colleague's iPhone and took Body Shop's app for a spin...
Nine intriguing internet marketing statistics we've seen this week
Once again it's that time of week where we round up a load of the most interesting internet marketing statistics that we've seen in the past seven days.
This week it includes Gov.uk's rapid response unit, wearables, mobile apps, Facebook, Twitter, giffgaff, and ecommerce in China.
For more of the same download Econsultancy's Internet Statistics Compendium...
What are iBeacons and why they might change marketing?
As a relative newcomer to the digital marketing world, I've decided to write a series of 'beginner's guides' to uncover what is meant by certain terms, trends and technological advances in digital; being both a travel guide and a personal investigation.
Here I'll be answering the following questions: What are iBeacons? What are their practical applications? Are iBeacons better than similar existing technology?
All this in a tone of voice that has been described as both 'helpful' and 'not too rambling'.
Just a cursory glance around the internet and indeed our own blog, throws up a lot of phrases and acronyms surrounding the term iBeacons (NFC, BLE… iBeacons).
Let's have a little wade through the jargon. Bear with me, I'll try and do this as logically as possible.
65% of global smartphone owners use Android OS: stats
In a sideways blow to Apple, Windows Phone and Blackberry, Android is now the dominant operating system of mobile users worldwide.
Android use has climbed from 27% in 2012 to 65% in 2013. An even more impressive figure is the 270% increase in Android use since the end of 2011.
These figures come from the Q4 2013 market research study by GlobalWebIndex (GWI), in which 170,000 respondents were interviewed in 32 markets, representing 89% of the global internet population.
Here are some more fascinating stats from the study involving device ownership and privacy.
Optimising PPC landing pages for Christmas
During the run-up to Christmas, which companies are bidding on paid search terms for the most popular products, and which have the most effective landing pages?
I took a look at paid search in my beginner's guide what is paid search (PPC) and why do you need it? last month, and since then I've been a lot more attuned to this method of search engine marketing.
However I've also realised that PPC ads are for nothing, and a complete waste of searcher's time and an advertiser's money, if conversion isn't happening.


text:
SAN JOSE -- The "Bash Brothers" era is officially over for the Earthquakes.
Veteran forward Alan Gordon has been dealt to the Los Angeles Galaxy for allocation money, the club announced Monday.
Gordon, 32, and Steven Lenhart, 27, drew the bashing moniker in 2012 when they tormented defenders during career seasons, the two often rotating in for each other as target forwards.
But injuries, a decline in production and the club's transition toward a more varied attack this season has made the pair seem expendable. Lenhart remains with the Quakes but is out with a knee injury.
Gordon, a Long Beach native who was selected by the Galaxy in the 2004 draft, departs as the ninth-leading scorer in Quakes history with 18 goals in 64 games. He joined San Jose in a July 2011 trade with Toronto FC.
"He's a real first-class person and a quality guy," Quakes coach Mark Watson said.
San Jose's addition of designated player Matias Perez Garcia of Argentina on July 31 underscored the team's de-emphasis on its predictable attacking ways.
But injuries took a toll on Gordon, who hadn't scored in 15 games this season. He had just four goals and three assists in 2013.
"Unfortunately, Alan has had a bunch of injuries, but I don't think Alan gets the credit he deserves for toughing things out and playing injured," Watson said. "He's someone that if his leg was broken, he would play and give everything he had. It's a real credit to Alan."
In 2012, Gordon followed a grueling offseason -- in which he rehabilitated his surgically repaired abdominal and hip muscles -- with a brilliant season. He led the Quakes to the Supporters' Shield with career highs in goals, 13, and assists, seven. He was named to Juergen Klinsmann's U.S. national team roster in advance of a 2012 game against Mexico but did not make an appearance.
He's played in one game for the national team, assisting Eddie Johnson's winning goal in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Antigua & Barbuda in 2012.
Gordon scored a number of memorable goals with the Quakes, including two stoppage-time winners against the Galaxy.
"We would like to thank Alan for everything he has done for this club," general manager John Doyle said in a release. "Alan has produced many great moments during his years with the Earthquakes."
Gordon has endured controversy as well. He was suspended by the league for three games for using an anti-gay slur in Portland in 2013, which he later apologized for.
Gordon played his first seven seasons with the Galaxy. He spent one season with Toronto and one with Chivas USA.


text:
Women's Nike Drop Back Sphere Hoodie
The Nike Drop Back Sphere Women's Hoodie is loaded with features that help keep you moving in colder weather. An adjustable hood and ribbed cuffs provide the snug fit to keep the elements out and the heat in. Made with special fabric that helps manage sweat and reduces cling, the hoodie delivers warmth and supreme comfort.