text:
Marietta College played powerball.
Jordan Grilliot and Aaron Hopper each homered in the first inning as the No. 8 and two-time defending national champion Pioneers defeated the College of Wooster, 9-5, in non-conference baseball action at Don Schaly Stadium Thursday night.
"That first inning set the tone," said MC skipper Brian Brewer, "and it helped our freshman pitcher (Christian Herstine) by allowing us to do some things offensively and putting his mind a little at ease on the mound. I think he fed off it, and we fed off it.
"It's a good win for us and the program."
The right-handed-throwing Herstine (1-0) made his first start as a Pioneer varsity hurler, and got the win. In five innings of work, he struck out three, walked three and allowed five earned runs. Mike Mulvey and Evan Brockmeier each tossed two frames of scoreless relief.
Mitch Geers stroked three hits, and Bryan Gregorich and Tyler Packanik each added two knocks for the Mideast Region's No. 1 Etta Express.
Fact Box
Marietta College 9, Wooster 5
at Don Schaly Stadium
Wooster 001 040 000 - 5 9 4
Marietta 421 110 00 x - 9 12 0
WP: Christian Herstine (1-0) IP 5, h8, r5, er5, bb3, so3
Mike Mulvey IP 2, so1
Evan Brockmeier IP 2, h1, so1
LP: Patrick Boyle (0-1) IP 2, h6, r6, er4, bb1
Zach Woullard IP 2, h2, r2, er1, so1
Jon Huisel Ip 1, h2, r1, er1, so1
Brett DeWester IP 1
Zach Klein IP 1, h2, so1
Jon Rothman Ip 1
Wooster (22-9) hitting: Eddie Reese 2-4, 2 RBIs; Zac Mathie 1-3, double, RBI; Craig Day 1-3, RBI; Billy Farrow 1-1; Bryan Miller 1-3; Johnathan Ray 1-3, RBI
Marietta (22-8) hitting: Jordan Grilliot 1-5, home run (solo, 1st inning, 4); Brockmeier 1-4, 3 runs; Aaron Hopper 1-4, home run (1st inning, 1), 2 RBIs; Alex Toth, 1-4, double, RBI; Mitch Geers 3-4, double, RBI; Bryan Gregorich 2-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Christian Demko 1-4, double; Tyler Packanik 2-4, RBI
Next game: B-W at Marietta (DH) at 1 p.m. Saturday
Wooster lefty Patrick Boyle suffered the mound setback, and Eddie Reese led the Scots (22-9) with two hits and two RBIs.
MC, which improved to 22-8 overall on the season, roughed up Boyle early when the left-handed-swinging Grilliot led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot on a payoff pitch to right center. Grilliot's round tripper was his team-leading fourth of the season.
After Brockmeier walked, Hopper blasted his first homer of the campaign, also to right center. The ball actually hit the top of the fence and bounded over.
"The wind was blowing out in right center and when you get it up in the jet stream, you're going to get a couple of those (home runs)," Brewer said.
Marietta wasn't through with Boyle as Geers singled to center, and came around to score on Gregorich's two-out triple to right, making it 4-0.
"We had a good start, and we maintained it," Brewer said. "We didn't put up a ton of runs in the middle or late innings but we still had some good at-bats."
The Etta Express stretched its lead to 6-0 with two more runs in the bottom of the second with Alex Toth driving in one of them with a double to left. Packanik scored the other on a Wooster fielding error.
The Scots finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the third when Reese singled home Jarrod Mancine. But the Pioneers got that back in the bottom half of the frame when Gregorich plated Tim McCoy with a sacrifice fly to right.
MC made it 8-1 in the fourth when Brockmeier beat out a bunt, advanced to second on a groundout, and came around to score on Geers' double to left.
Wooster had a four-run fifth on a bat-around to cut it to 8-5. Zac Mathie, Craig Day, Johnathan Ray, and Reese each drove in a run for the Scots.
"He (Herstine) gave us pretty much what we hoped for," Brewer said, "and allowed us to do some things at the back end.
"The difference was, early on, he was getting strike one and ahead of the hitters. Then he started getting behind and up a little bit, and Wooster's a good enough team offensively that they hit some balls on the nose."
Capping all the scoring in the contest in the bottom of the fifth, Marietta's Christian Demko doubled and legged it home on Packanik's RBI hit to left.
OAC first-place (11-3) Marietta College is scheduled to host second-place (10-4) Baldwin-Wallace in a league twinball at 1 p.m. Saturday, also Community Day. Brockmeier is slated to pitch in the opener and Mulvey in the nightcap.


text:
VJs' rigs are all different; unlike with DJing,
there's no standard "two
turntables and a mixer."
It's a great time for live visuals. After a century- projectors have far higher brightness and resolu-long march of color organs, visual music, light tion than the bank- and back-breaking Eidophor
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manipulate and mix original material and samples, 1980s. Between a laptop and a digital projector,
both abstract and representational, in real time. you have all the hardware you need to start VJing.
You don't have to wait for rendering anymore.
Illustrations by Damien Scogin
Most new laptops with dual-screen support (a VJ Software
must) can now handle live video mixing and Recent years have seen an explosion of live video
effects in resolutions of 320x240 or 640x480, software. Some apps, such as Videodelic, Touch,
depending on the software — and of course, and Zuma, are mainly synthesizers that use
they're getting better every year. With a super- gestural input and settings to generate dazzling
fast gamer laptop, you can go even higher. abstract patterns. Other software focuses on
Meanwhile, the home theater boom has brought playing and mixing video clips.
a flood of dazzling and relatively inexpensive The easiest clip-based applications to learn,
digital projectors. Today's lightweight, $800 DLP including Arkaos, Motion Dive, and Livid Union,
Click to subscribe to this magazine

subset: commoncrawl


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Trips / United States / Utah / Driving
See the best hiking trails in Utah
Driving Guides and Trips in UtahBelow are popular Driving guides and trips in Utah that you can use to plan your next adventure. You can download guides, including a detailed map, description and points of interest for a small fee to your iPhone or Android.
Drive through Arches National Park and see the highlights along the way, with a few stops for optional hikes to see more
Island In The Sky District, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, United States
Easy, but adventurous, drive to high scenic pass
This is the real American Southwest, with a wildness and emptiness that allows you a taste of frontier life.
Four-wheel drive is usually not required except at east end
This vantage point is an ideal place to observe and learn about the geology of Clear Creek Canyon.
The Rim Trail includes the heaviest concentration and some of the best quality of rock art in Fremont Indian State Park.
Everything you need for Arches National Park: several top hikes and a complete driving tour along its highlights
Short SUV drive through gorgeous canyon
Cross the veil of time and discover the secrets of a canyon riddled with gold and the saga of men who sought her riches.
Sanpete County (Wasatch Plateau) Highpoint
Eye of the Whale, Tower Arch
Moab, Utah, United States
Driving | 30 miles
Driving | 30 miles
Nice loop road going by Eye of the Whale Arch for lunch, then onto Tower Arch
Old Ephraim loop
Logan, Utah, United States
Driving | 22 miles
Driving | 22 miles
4x4 road scenic, to old ephraims grave. southern section could be difficult if muddy from rain. couple steep parts but no 4wd needed. No water crossings, drove nissan pickup, got a flat tire towards the end from going too fast. Very fun drive. BackcountryMapping.com -GPS Maps of Utah Forest Service roads/trails and Ski trail Maps.
Bullion Canyon
Bullion Falls, Utah, United States
Driving | 3.4 miles
Driving | 3.4 miles
Canyon of Gold Driving TourCross the veil of time and discover the secrets of a canyon riddled with gold and the saga of men who sought her riches.Since the earliest days of human civilization, gold has enticed the souls of most mortal men.Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Bright and yellow, hard and cold Molten, graven, hammered rolled, Heavy to get and light to hold.(Thomas Hood, 1799-1845)The mouth of Utah's "Canyon of Gold" stretches before you. From...
Alta Skiing: The Drive Home to Palo Alto
Alta, Utah, United States
Driving | 795 miles
Driving | 795 miles
Serving Northern California, Nevada and UtahJOIN | LOGIN | RENEWWe had driven to Utah on the spur of the moment. That sounds like an odd thing to do for a family of five, but bad weather in SLC had cancelled our flight and because of the Holidays, all upcoming flights were booked, so it just made sense to drive. 16 hours, through the night, no let up.The week's skiing was great,...
Peak 7450 - Silver Peak quad
Iron Mountain, Utah, United States
Driving | 3.8 miles
Driving | 3.8 miles
This is a fun afternoon drive to the summit of a ranked peak in the Silver Peak quad. With a Prominence of 1,040' this summit is the number 1 ranked peak in the quad and can be reached in just over an hour, provided you have a 4x4 high clearance vehicle or an ATV. Just past the high saddle, continue to follow the road for an additional 100 yards, park and hike...
Iron Mountain - Desert Mound quad
Iron Mountain, Utah, United States
Driving | 8.8 miles
Driving | 8.8 miles
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Ride home
Powell Estates, Utah, United States
Driving | 0.0 miles
Driving | 0.0 miles
Driving home from the movies


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Universal provision of legal identity, most commonly birth registration, is viewed as both an intrinsic human right and an instrumental development necessity. Legal identity is commonly associated with citizen access to certain benefits and opportunities, protection of human rights, and generation of vital statistics to inform development planning. Research conducted in Nepal, Cambodia, and Bangladesh demonstrates that significant obstacles to obtaining legal identity include financial and procedural barriers, discriminatory laws and policies, institutional incapacity, and citizens' lack of knowledge and motivation. Robust alternative markets for legal identity reveal the true public demand for identity documents. In the developing country context, the provision of legal identity alone does not necessarily deliver desired development outcomes. Thus, universal civil registration is a necessary and worthy goal, but focus should remain on the ultimate development goals behind universal registration.
* This paper was inspired by and based on research conducted in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Nepal by The Asia Foundation with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The study was conducted with the help of Asia Foundation consultants and numerous focus group participants and key informants. A report of the original research was published by the ADB (Legal Identity for Inclusive Development, 2007). We thank Caroline Vandenabeele and the ADB for their assistance with the original research. The views expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of The Asia Foundation. First published online 4 November 2013.
** Director, Program Strategy, Innovation and Learning, The Asia Foundation, Q. House Convent Bldg., Floor 6D, 38 Convent Road, Silom Bangkok 10500, Thailand, firstname.lastname@example.com.
*** Professor of the Practice of Law and Director, Rule of Law Program, Stanford Law School, Senior Research Scholar, Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Affairs, Stanford University, Senior Advisor for Governance and Law, The Asia Foundation, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, CA 94305, firstname.lastname@example.com.
**** JD Candidate, Stanford Law School, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, CA 94305, samu firstname.lastname@example.com.


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May 30 — To the Editor:
I've read recently that York County Chief Deputy Bill King was reprimanded 10 years ago for driving his government car to referee a basketball game. Another report explained that the basketball game was for special needs children. Bill King sounds like a horrible man for doing such a dastardly deed. I need to tell you about some other horrible things this man has done since becoming the chief deputy of the York County Sheriff's office.
Two years ago, I was the victim of a serious, life-threatening assault. Admittedly, I was at a bar and had a few too many drinks. I encountered a gang of younger, more sober thugs who needed to prove their masculinity.
As video surveillance shows I was the victim of an unprovoked assault. The thugs surrounded me while two of them beat me — and continued beating me after I lay on the pavement, unconscious. They stopped others from getting medical help for me. The sheriff's office and rescue was called and I was transported to the hospital where I spent five days in the intensive care unit. The beating left me with permanent disfigurement and some physical deficits.
I wanted my two assailants prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, which included several court appearances. I became quite familiar with the inner workings of the criminal justice system. And I became very familiar with Chief Deputy Bill King.
Bill personally monitored the status of my case, and checked on me constantly. Even during corrective surgery operations and the subsequent recovery periods, Bill would always give me a "well check." Bill even contacted my employer and told them how much he appreciated their benevolence by holding my job for me through my recovery.
I eventually returned to work with a modified job, while my assailants were given a very stern slap on the wrist — several months in jail. I was upset with this outcome but Bill explained the criminal justice process completely. While I still don't agree, I gained a respect for law enforcement that I didn't have before.
Two years after the assault, I suffered a heart attack. My boss called Bill because even he knew that this cop cares about people. Bill was one of my first visitors.
We have an opportunity in York County to vote for an outstanding individual for sheriff. His compassion, professionalism and dedication to the citizens are unprecedented. I hope nobody ever has to meet Bill King under the circumstances I did, but if you do, he will be there for you. Please join me in voting for him on June 10.
Jason Moreland
Berwick, Maine
Location, ST | website.com


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PLAYBACK: The (Mostly) Kind Social Networking Spaces Teens Find Online and Learning How to Learn
11.11.11 | New study examines teens' experience on social network sites; teaching kids to search online; the expansion of YOUmedia; and Twitter memorials for Veteran's Day….
Kindness & Cruelty: Nearly 70 percent of teens who use social networking sites say their peers are mostly kind to each other, according to a new study released this week. Yet 88 percent have witnessed mean or cruel behavior online. And 15 percent of teens on social networking sites say they have been the target of mean or cruel behavior.
The study, "Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites: How American teens navigate the new world of 'digital citizenship,'" was released by the Pew Internet and American Life Project at the Family Online Safety Institute conference.
"For most teens, these are exciting and rewarding spaces," said Amanda Lenhart, lead author of the new report. "But the majority have also seen a darker side. And for a subset of teens, the world of social media isn't a pretty place because it presents a climate of drama and mean behavior."
Researchers held focus groups and conducted a nationally representative survey of 799 young people ages 12 to 17, and their parents, to "examine teens' behavior and experiences on social network sites, their privacy and safety practices, and the role of parents in digital safekeeping."
They found that a full 95 percent of all teens are online, and 80 percent of online teens are using social media. The report also found that parents and peers are the most important sources of advice on online safety. You can download the full report here.
Why Johnny Can't Search?: Blogging at Wired, Clive Thompson has a good post highlighting new research that finds, yet again, that supposedly tech-savvy young people are not all that skilful at searching for information online.
Bing Pan, a business professor at the College of Charleston, asked college students to look up the answers to a series of questions. He changed the order of the search results for some students and noted that the majority of students relied on sites that appeared at the top of Google's search results.
"Pan grimly concluded that students aren't assessing information sources on their own merit," Thompson writes. "They're putting too much trust in the machine."
We've covered research by Eszter Hargittai and others that found similar results. Thompson points to the heroic efforts of school librarians around the country who are leading the charge to teach online literacy:
Consider the efforts of Frances Harris, librarian at the magnet University Laboratory High School in Urbana, Illinois. (Librarians are our national leaders in this fight; they're the main ones trying to teach search skills to kids today.) Harris educates eighth and ninth graders in how to format nuanced queries using Boolean logic and advanced settings. She steers them away from raw Google searches and has them use academic and news databases, too.
But, crucially, she also trains students to assess the credibility of what they find online. For example, she teaches them to analyze the tone of a web page to judge whether it was created by an academic, an advocacy group, or a hobbyist. Students quickly gain the ability to detect if a top-ranked page about Martin Luther King Jr. was actually posted by white supremacists.
"I see them start to get really paranoid," Harris says. "The big thing in assessing search results is authorship—who put it there and why have they put it there?" Or, as pioneering librarian Buffy Hamilton at Creekview High School near Atlanta says, "This is learning how to learn."
Plus: See my post from earlier this week about why colleges need to do a better job of teaching students to understand and produce texts online.
The Future of Libraries: And speaking of libraries, writing at the Gates Foundation's Impatient Optimists blog, Deborah Jacobs, director of the Global Libraries Initiative, explains why the foundation is funding a new research initiative to study how the role of public libraries is changing in the digital age and how library patrons' needs and expectations are shifting.
"Even many of us who had worked with America's public libraries for a decade were surprised that a third of Americans relied so heavily on the free access to computers, training, and internet provided at the 17,000 public libraries nestled in nearly every community in the country," Jacobs writes.
Through funding to the Pew Internet and American Life Project to conduct the study, Jacobs says Gates is hoping community leaders and library staff can use the data to evolve library services to better meet the needs of their patrons in the coming years.
YOUmedia Miami: One example Jacobs and others are most likely looking to as a model is YOUmedia, the Chicago Public Library's digital space for teens that is now expanding across the country with help from The MacArthur Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
High school students in Miami will soon have the opportunity to use technology to visualize their favorite book, create short animated films, and even tell an autobiographical digital story—all at their public library.
"The community in which this is being launched is Miami Gardens where teenagers don't currently have somewhere they can have this kind of experience," Gia Arbogast, branch administrator for the Miami-Dade Public Library System, told the Knight Foundation in this video interview. "Once we get them into the library and involved in the program, we can start having conversations about how this is going to benefit the larger community. We're asking how you can take what you create out into the community and create something good."
The Knight Foundation, which is supporting YOUmedia's expansion, also spoke with Matthew Poland, chief executive officer of the Hartford Public Library, who is also working to implement a YOUmedia program in Connecticut in 2012. Poland says he see the program as critical to fostering civic engagement.
You can read the full post at the Knight Foundation. Also, see the post on how libraries can help build strong resilient communities. You can read lots more about YOUmedia on Spotlight.
#weremember: Finally, we wanted to point to yet another novel use of Twitter—to honor our fallen soldiers around the world this Veteran's day. The Paralyzed Veterans of America is inviting people to Tweet using the hashtag #ISalute, and in Canada, the Ottawa Citizen will tweet the names of those who died in service using the account @WeAreTheDead. And in the UK, some Twitter users plan to take part in an Armistice Day service held on Twitter with links to hymns and a two-minute "silence." Followers are invited to tweet the names of departed loved ones. You can follow the service using the hashtag #weremember.
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Whether performing on a Broadway stage, singing in a movie musical, or hosting the Oscars, Hugh Jackman approaches them all with equal intensity. Yet, when he dons Adamantium bone claws in "Wolverine," the 44-year-old actor admits that something magical happens.
"It may be the strongest of all the roles I've played," Jackman says of the "X-Men" antihero.
When the Australian actor sat down with The Associated Press before the opening of "Wolverine," he honored the iconic comic book character with appropriately trimmed facial hair showing off Logan's signature muttonchops. And why not? It's the role that launched his career in the first "X-Men" film. He's already played the character six times already, and is currently shooting a seventh installment due in 2014.
"There's four or five roles that end up being the foundation of your entire career. There's no doubt to me that this (Wolverine) is one of them."
As a fan of the comic book series, Jackman says this one was important for him.
"I wanted to make (this movie) for 13 years when I first read that samurai story," the actor said. "I just think seeing this character in that world, juxtaposed with Japan in every way, I thought it was perfect and to see him battle with his powers, which really gives him an almost immortality."
While there's immortality to Logan, the operative word for the man who plays him is versatility. Jackman seems every bit as comfortable in an action film as he does in a Broadway musical. It's an adaptability he attributes to a bygone era.
"I'm more of kind of a throwback kind of actor. This is how all actors had to make a living 40, 50 years ago," Jackman explained. "When Clint Eastwood was under (studio) contract ... he would do musicals, he would do cowboy drama."
Jackman credits his training back home for preparing him for a wide range of roles. But he also acknowledges the core intent had more to do with survival.
"The nature of acting in Australia is you need to be up for everything. If you want to make a living, if you want to pay the rent, you've got to be able to do everything. There's only 10 movies made a year so that's natural to me," he said.
Part of Jackman's fascination with the Logan character lies in the duality between the human and the animal. The actor says the key is to balance the chaotic and controlled emotions within him.
"On one level you can say I'm playing a guy with weird hair and claws coming out of his hands, but actually he's incredibly human and a great sort of antihero and tragic figure," Jackman said. "That's why he's eternally fascinating to me and that's why I keep coming back."
Last year, Jackman starred in the film adaptation of "Les Miserables" as the iconic Jean Valjean, picking up a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination for his effort. In between, he's been working on the original Broadway musical, "Houdini," in which he puts on the cape as the legendary illusionist. That show hits Broadway in the spring of 2014.


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Fair Haven shifts board meetingsMarch 08,2013Fair Haven shifts
boards meetings
FAIR HAVEN Select Board meetings in Fair Haven will now be held at 7 p.m. every other Monday instead of every other Tuesday starting March 18.
The board made the change during a restructuring meeting Wednesday following town meeting elections.
Board Chairman Christopher Cole said the change is necessary because the town manager may serve as the towns alternative representative on the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, which meets Tuesday once a month.
At Wednesdays special meeting, the board also said it is looking for volunteers interested in representing the town as a member of the RRPC board and on the Rutland Regional Transportation Council.
Anyone interested should send a letter of interest to the town manager.MORE IN This Just InHARTFORD, Conn. Full StoryWHITE RIVER JUNCTION A Springfield man will spend 17 months in jail and the next decade on... Full StoryEvery year thousands of school children are transported in school buses. Full Story
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In order to understand something, sometimes it's easier to understand it by defining what the opposite is.
Recently, I was trying to explain to someone the fundamental principle behind continuous improvement was. Do you ever run into the scenario where you find yourself in a conversation and you hear:
"We need to build an X, it will solve all our problems and make our code bug free."
Conversations like this, immediately sound off alarm bells in my head, because what's essentially being suggested is a magic potion, a concoction to cure all ills, an elixir of eternal life or just plain old powered tiger scrotum.
The overuse of hyperbole and setting truly unrealistic expectations in software development only results in continuous disappointment, and slowly kills a team spirit and stakeholder trust.
Aim for steady incremental continuos improvement with small achievable micro goals, know when to pat yourself and your team on the back when they have achieved them, and make sure going off solo on a magical quest to slay a dragon get's stigmatised and not rewarded.


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The author's opinions merit two comments. First, she seems to have forgotten that the determination of quality is solely the responsibility of the medical profession-- not of health insurers whose primary function is to make profits for shareholders. Thus, any initiatives by insurers in the realm of physician education or quality should be suspect. The pay for performance programs being touted by some insurers serve to fragment our profession. Clearly, they do not unite us. This should worry all doctors.
Second, board certification, at best can only determine a small part of a physician's competence and his or her total capacity and worth. The boards cannot measure how well a physician forms a therapeutic bond with his patients or how well he connects with them. Neither can they determine if a doctor is a good team player on the health team, how well he works to advocate for his patients, or how hard he tries to fit them in to a busy schedule. Furthermore they say nothing about how well he runs his office or if he participates in the affairs of his state and county medical societies, or in the medical affairs of his local hospital. The boards have serious limitations that should be obvious to all.
Yet for no good reason, the ABMS has amassed inordinate power amassed too much power, almost equaling that of state licensing boards since, not having them may keep a physician off of an hmo panel. Or stigmatize him. Clearly, not being boarded is rapidly becoming seen as a professional impropriety.
Besides, the board exams are costly and time- consuming. Some doctors either in preparation for the boards or because they have failed them, take board review exams. These too are costly and time-consuming. And assimilating information only to regurgitate it on an exam seems meaningless. Sort of like steroids before the Superbowl. And one wonders if those who don't take them are disadvantaged, making the whole testing process ineffective.
Board certification was intended to be a voluntary exam intended to demonstrate a level of academic knowledge above the minimum needed to practice competently. Usually those in academic and teaching positions had them for obvious reasons. They were never intended to infringe on a doctor's ability to make a living.
Doubtless, it is important for doctors to stay knowledgeable and competent. And the great majority do. But the boards are seen by many as out of sync with reality. Doctors will soon be more concerned with passing their tests than on actually being a good doctor.
To make things worse, the ABMS is offering further certifications in areas like palliative care and hypertension. Board exams seem to have become an end in themselves.
Perhaps the biggest flaw of the boards is their pass/fail approach. Ideally the boards should help physicians identify areas of weakness and offer remedial studying. Failing them serves no good purpose.
The AMA's AMAP test (which was defeated for political reasons not clearly explained in the medical literature), had a more comprehensive approach to a physician's competence because it took into account several important personal qualities that good physicians should have but which were overlooked in the ABMS exams. Physicians should have a choice of accrediting exams to sit for. Having only one is dangerous and harmful and places many doctors at risk of being ostracized or suspected of incompetence.
One wonders if the use of board certification as an indictor of competence is an over-reaction to the Institute of Medicine's 1999 report on patient safety, which has caused unnecessary public fear and mistrust of the medical profession in general.
The use of the boards by health insurers as measurers of competence and quality has several limitations and merits investigation. Not doing so is a mistake because in their current use they have great potential to harm physicians' livelihoods and reputations.
None declared
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text: The telegram may be dead and postage stamps on their way out, but the post office is not sliding into oblivion. Its small savings schemes are a favourite with investors, and if India Post bags the banking licence, it could be a financial powerhouse with its 1.55 lakh branches. Here are some of the products and services offered by the post office.


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EV equals market capitalization plus seasonally adjusted net debt, pension provisions, the value of minorities and other provisions deemed debt.
How to calculate EBITDA?
In order to calculate EBITDA, start with earnings from continuing operations excluding the non-recurring items and to that earning numbers, add interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
How to calculate Enterprise Value?
Calculation of enterprise value can be done as follows:
Enterprise Value = Market value of common equity + Market value of preferred stock + Market value of debt – cash and investments.
Market value of common equity can be calculated by multiplying the price of share with number of shares outstanding.
Cash and investments are also known as non-earning assets and they should be subtracted because EV measures the price an acquirer would pay for entire company. The cash and investments lowers the cost of net acquisition, so it is kept out. Similarly, in repurchasing the debt, the acquirer has to pay the market value, and if the market value is not available, than the book value as stated in balance sheet can be used.
Let us understand this with an example:
Suppose a company has three type of common equity shares viz Special Class A, Class A and Class B shares. Closing share prices of special Class A shares (non voting) is $45.875 and $45.25 for Class A shares (one vote per share). Class B shares (15 votes per share) is not trading in stock market. Outstanding shares of special Class A shares is 908.015192 million shares, Class A is 21.83225 million shares and value of Class B as per books is 9.4 million.
Preferred stock as per books is 59.5 million. Long term debt as per books is 10, 517.4 million and the minority interest and others is equal to 1257.2 million.
The asset side of the balance sheet states the following items (in millions):
Cash and cash equivalents $651.5
Investments $3,059.7
The income statement states the following items (in millions):
Net income $2,021.5
Net income for common stockholders $1,998.0
Interest expense $691.4
Taxes $1,441.3
Depreciation $837.3
Amortization $1,794.0
We first calculate EBITDA.
We always select net income (which is net income available to both preferred and common equity) in the EBITDA calculation:
Net income $2,021.5 + Interest $691.4 + Taxes $1,441.3 + Depreciation $837.3 + Amortization $1,794.0 = EBITDA $6,785.5
Than We calculate the value of all equity, adding to it "minority interest and other".
Special Class A issue ($45.875 × 908.015192 million shares) 41,655.20
Plus: Class A issue ($45.25 × 21.83225 million shares) 987.91
Plus: Class B stock (per books) 9.4
Equal to: Common equity value 42,652.51
Plus: Preferred equity (per books) 59.5
Equal to: Total equity 42,712.01
Plus: Minority interest and other 1,257.2
Equal to: Common equity plus minority interest 43,969.21
The value of long-term debt (per the books) is $10,517.4 million.
The sum of cash and cash equivalents plus investments is $651.5 million +$3,059.7 million = $3,711.2 million.
So, EV=$43,969.21 million + $10,517.4 million − $3, 711.2 million = $50, 775.41 million.
We conclude that EV/EBITDA = ($50, 775.41 million) / ($6,785.5 million) = 7.5.
How to use EV/EBITDA as comparables?
Rationales for using EV/EBITDA:
- EV/EBITDA may be more appropriate than P/E for comparing companies with different financial leverage (debt), because EBITDA is a pre-interest earnings figure, in contrast to EPS, which is post-interest.
- By adding back depreciation and amortization, EBITDA controls for differences in depreciation and amortization across businesses. For this reason, EV/EBITDA is frequently used in the valuation of capital-intensive businesses because they have substantial depreciation and amortization expenses.
- EBITDA is frequently positive when EPS is negative.
Drawbacks to EV/EBITDA
- EV/EBITDA cannot be used when current cash flow is negative. Use normalized EBITDA, or a forward multiple, instead.
- EV/EBITDA is affected by a firm's level of capital intensity (measured as depreciation as a percentage of EBITDA). All things being equal, higher capital intensity results in a lower EV/EBITDA multiple, which can mislead the investment decision.
- While EBITDA is closer to cash flow than other profit measures it is not a true cash flow, as it does not incorporate either asset depreciation or capital expenditure. Also, EBITDA is a pretax measure, whereas management can potentially add value through skilled tax management.


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Office Phone: 609 921 1900 x113
Fax: 609 921 0480
Home Phone: 609 203 4836
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Web: house-hunting.com/kikicm61


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The Turnaround Tracker What's this?
The Turnaround TrackerWhat's this?
Jillian's story
Upon returning home from a mini-vacation in Pittsburgh, my check engine light came on in my car. Instead of panicking and wondering which credit card had enough available credit to cover the $265 cost of a bad engine coil, we were able to cover it with CA$H because of our budgeting through FPU. This was after paying cash for everything during our vacation! About a month later, my brakes began to grind and we found the front brakes needed replaced completely. Again, because of FPU, we were able to cover the $480 repair with CA$H! This is a sense of peace we've never known and, while we're still working to pay off our debt, it is so nice to know that we don't have to scramble to find available credit on a credit card to cover every day 'Murphy' happenings. Thank you so much!


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Take a sneak peek at the new NIST.gov and let us know what you think!
(Please note: some content may not be complete on the beta site.).
In This Issue...
Editor: Michael Baum
NIST Achieves Record-Low Error Rate for Quantum Information Processing with One Qubit
Thanks to advances in experimental design, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have achieved a record-low probability of error in quantum information processing with a single quantum bit (qubit)—the first published error rate small enough to meet theoretical requirements for building viable quantum computers.
A quantum computer could potentially solve certain problems that are intractable using today's technology, even supercomputers. The NIST experiment with a single beryllium ion qubit, described in a forthcoming paper,* is a milestone for simple quantum logic operations. However, a working quantum computer also will require two-qubit logic operations with comparably low error rates.
"One error per 10,000 logic operations is a commonly agreed upon target for a low enough error rate to use error correction protocols in a quantum computer," explains Kenton Brown, who led the project as a NIST postdoctoral researcher. "It is generally accepted that if error rates are above that, you will introduce more errors in your correction operations than you are able to correct. We've been able to show that we have good enough control over our single-qubit operations that our probability of error is 1 per 50,000 logic operations."
The NIST experiment was performed on 1,000 unique sequences of logic operations randomly selected by computer software. Sequences of 10 different lengths, ranging from one to 987 operations, were repeated 100 times each. The measured results were compared to perfect theoretical outcomes. The maximum length of the sequences was limited by the hardware used to control the experiment.
The record low error rate was made possible by two major changes in the group's experimental setup. First, scientists manipulated the ion using microwaves instead of the usual laser beams. A microwave antenna was incorporated into the ion trap, with the ion held close by, hovering 40 micrometers above the trap surface. The use of microwaves reduced errors caused by instability in laser beam pointing and power, as well as spontaneous ion emissions. Second, the ion trap was placed inside a copper vacuum chamber and cooled to 4.2 K with a helium bath to reduce errors caused by magnetic field fluctuations in the lab.
Brown now works at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Co-author Christian Ospelkaus contributed to the research while at NIST and is now at research institutions in Germany. The research was supported in part by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, the National Security Agency, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Office of Naval Research.
* K.R. Brown, A.C. Wilson, Y. Colombe, C. Ospelkaus, A.M. Meier, E. Knill, D. Leibfried and D. J. Wineland. 2011. Single-qubit gate error below 10-4 in a trapped ion. Physical Review A Forthcoming. Preprint available at: http://arxiv.org/abs/1104.2552.
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Researchers Expand Capabilities of Miniature Analyzer for Complex Samples
It's not often that someone can claim that going from a positive to a negative is a step forward, but that's the case for a team of scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and private industry. In a recent paper,* the group significantly extended the reach of their novel microfluidic system for analyzing the chemical components of complex samples. The new work shows how the system, meant to analyze real-world, crude mixtures such as dirt or whole blood, can work for negatively charged components as well as it has in the past for positively charged ones.
In previous work,** NIST researchers Elizabeth Strychalski and David Ross, in collaboration with Alyssa Henry of Applied Research Associates Inc. (Alexandria, Va.), demonstrated the use of a technique called GEMBE (for "gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis") for analyzing complex samples. The NIST-developed system combines a simple microfluidic structure (two reservoirs connected by a microchannel), electrophoresis (which uses electricity to move sample components through a fluid) and pressure-driven flow.
Analyzing complex samples can be difficult because components in these samples (such as the fat globules in milk or proteins in blood) can "foul" or contaminate microfluidic channels. The traditional solution has been to remove contaminants with costly, time-consuming sample preparation prior to analysis.
GEMBE solves this problem by pumping fluid through the microchannel using a controlled pressure in the direction opposite to electrophoresis. This opposing pressure-driven flow acts as a "fluid gate" between the sample reservoir and the microchannel. Gradually reducing the pressure of the counterflow opens the "gate" a little bit at a time. A specific sample component is detected when the pressure flow becomes weak enough—i.e. the "gate" opens wide enough—that the component's electrophoretic motion pushes it against the pressure-driven flow and into the channel for detection. In this way, different components enter the channel at different times, based on their particular electrophoretic motion. Most importantly, the channel doesn't become fouled because the unwanted components in the sample are held out.
"Previously, we validated the GEMBE technique by quantitatively analyzing components from complex samples in solution that were cationic [positively charged] and could, therefore, be separated relatively easily from anionic [negatively charged] contaminants in a mixture," Strychalski says. "However, we needed a way to make GEMBE work when both the desired components and the contaminants are negatively charged."
For some samples, Strychalski says, this was achieved by choosing a different solution pH to change the electrophoretic motion of the unwanted components. In other cases, the addition of commercially available surface coatings to the sample did the trick without compromising the ease and robustness of the GEMBE technique.
"Additives can be selected that will interact with material in the sample that we don't want to study," Strychalski explains. "If we choose the right coating, it will slow the electrophoretic motion of contaminants relative to the desired components. This prevents the former from interfering with analysis while still allowing the latter to enter the microchannel for detection."
Strychalski and her colleagues plan to continue refining the GEMBE system, including an effort to define which surface coatings optimize the technique for specific components in a variety of complex samples.
* E.A. Strychalski, A.C. Henry and D. Ross. Expanding the capabilities of microfluidic gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis for complex systems. Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 83, No. 16, pp 6316–6322. Aug. 15, 2011.
** See "'No Muss, No Fuss' Miniaturized Analysis for Complex Samples Developed" in NIST Tech Beat, Nov. 17, 2009, at www.nist.gov/public_affairs/tech-beat/tb20091117.cfm#gembe.
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Iron 'Veins' Are Secret of Promising New Hydrogen Storage Material
With a nod to biology, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have a new approach to the problem of safely storing hydrogen in future fuel-cell-powered cars. Their idea: molecular scale "veins" of iron permeating grains of magnesium like a network of capillaries. The iron veins may transform magnesium from a promising candidate for hydrogen storage into a real-world winner.
Hydrogen has been touted as a clean and efficient alternative to gasoline, but it has one big drawback: the lack of a safe, fast way to store it onboard a vehicle. According to NIST materials scientist Leo Bendersky, iron-veined magnesium could overcome this hurdle. The combination of lightweight magnesium laced with iron could rapidly absorb—and just as importantly, rapidly release—sufficient quantities of hydrogen so that grains made from the two metals could form the fuel tank for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
"Powder grains made of iron-doped magnesium can get saturated with hydrogen within 60 seconds," says Bendersky, "and they can do so at only 150 degrees Celsius and fairly low pressure, which are key factors for safety in commercial vehicles."
Grains of pure magnesium are reasonably effective at absorbing hydrogen gas, but only at unacceptably high temperatures and pressures can they store enough hydrogen to power a car for a few hundred kilometers—the minimum distance needed between fill-ups. A practical material would need to hold at least 6 percent of its own weight in hydrogen gas and be able to be charged safely with hydrogen in the same amount of time as required to fill a car with gasoline today.
The NIST team used a new measurement technique they devised that uses infrared light to explore what would happen if the magnesium were evaporated and mixed together with small quantities of other metals to form fine-scale mixtures. The team found that iron formed capillary-like channels within the grains, creating passageways for hydrogen transport within the metal grains that allow hydrogen to be drawn inside extremely fast. According to Bendersky, the magnesium-iron grains could hold up to 7 percent hydrogen by weight.
Bendersky adds that the measurement technique could be valuable more generally, as it can reveal details of how a material absorbs hydrogen more effectively than the more commonly employed technique of X-ray diffraction—a method that is limited to analyzing a material's averaged properties.
* Z. Tan, C. Chiu, E.J. Heilweil and L.A. Bendersky. Thermodynamics, kinetics and microstructural evolution during hydrogenation of iron-doped magnesium this films. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 36 (2011), pp. 9702-9713, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.04.196
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Better 'Photon Loops' May Be Key to Computer and Physics Advances
Surprisingly, transmitting information-rich photons thousands of miles through fiber-optic cable is far easier than reliably sending them just a few nanometers through a computer circuit. However, it may soon be possible to steer these particles of light accurately through microchips because of research* performed at the Joint Quantum Institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland, together with Harvard University.
The scientists behind the effort say the work not only may lead to more efficient information processors on our desktops, but also could offer a way to explore a particularly strange effect of the quantum world known as the quantum Hall effect in which electrons can interfere with themselves as they travel in a magnetic field. The corresponding physics is rich enough that its investigation has already resulted in three Nobel Prizes, but many intriguing theoretical predictions about it have yet to be observed.
The advent of optical fibers a few decades ago made it possible for dozens of independent phone conversations to travel long distances along a single glass cable by, essentially, assigning each conversation to a different color—each narrow strand of glass carrying dramatic amounts of information with little interference.
Ironically, while it is easy to send photons far across a town or across the ocean, scientists have a harder time directing them to precise locations across short distances—say, a few hundred nanometers—and this makes it difficult to employ photons as information carriers inside computer chips.
"We run into problems when trying to use photons in microcircuits because of slight defects in the materials chips are made from," says Jacob Taylor, a theoretical physicist at NIST and JQI. "Defects crop up a lot, and they deflect photons in ways that mess up the signal."
These defects are particularly problematic when they occur in photon delay devices, which slow the photons down to store them briefly until the chip needs the information they contain. Delay devices are usually constructed from a single row of tiny resonators, so a defect among them can ruin the information in the photon stream. But the research team perceived that using multiple rows of resonators would build alternate pathways into the delay devices, allowing the photons to find their way around defects easily.
As delay devices are a vital part of computer circuits, the alternate-pathway technique may help overcome obstacles blocking the development of photon-based chips, which are still a dream of computer manufacturers. While that application would be exciting, lead author Mohammad Hafezi says the prospect of investigating the quantum Hall effect with the same technology also has great scientific appeal.
"The photons in these devices exhibit the same type of interference as electrons subjected to the quantum Hall effect," says Hafezi, a research associate at JQI. "We hope these devices will allow us to sidestep some of the problems with observing the physics directly, instead allowing us to explore them by analogy."
*M. Hafezi, E.A. Demler, M.D. Lukin and J.M. Taylor. Robust optical delay lines with topological protection. Nature Physics, Aug. 21, 2011, DOI: 10.1038/NPHYS2063.
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Ion Armageddon: Measuring the Impact Energy of Highly Charged Ions
Much like a meteor impacting a planet, highly charged ions hit really hard and can do a lot of damage, albeit on a much smaller scale. And much like geologists determine the size and speed of the meteor by looking at the hole it left, physicists can learn a lot about a highly charged ion's energy by looking at the divots it makes in thin films.
Building upon their work for which they were recently awarded a patent,* scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Clemson University have measured the energy of highly charged ion impacts on a thin film surface for the first time in detail.** Understanding how ions discharge their energy upon impact will help researchers to make better predictive models of how the particles affect surfaces.
The question isn't trivial. Ions are used in exactly that way for a variety of micro- and nanoscale production processes, techniques such as ion milling and etching. Better predictive models may also help researchers curtail ionic erosion where it would be a bad thing, such as inside a fusion reactor.
The research team used xenon atoms from which they had stripped all but 10 of the atoms' original 54 electrons. Making an atom so highly ionized takes a lot of energy—about 50,000 electron volts. The atom soaks up all the energy that went into freeing the electrons until it is capable of imparting more energy, and thus more damage, than could be done with kinetic energy—mass and speed—alone.
"When the highly charged ion is finally released and hurtles into its target, most of its energy, about 60 percent, blows back in the 'splash' and dissipates into the vacuum," says Josh Pomeroy. "According to our measurements, 27 percent of the remaining 40 percent of the ion's energy goes into changing the shape of the material—making divots."
Pomeroy says that the remaining 13 percent is most likely converted to heat.
The group first began looking into nanoscale pitting of thin films to help improve the performance of data storage hard drives, which used aluminum oxide thin films as an insulator between magnetic plates. They used ions to pockmark the surface of these films and showed that the depth of the pitting could be determined by measuring minute changes in electrical conductance through the film.
The original motivation for the work has abated, but the group's method and materials remain useful for measuring the energy transfer of highly charged ions and calibrating industrial systems using high-energy ion beams.
* United States Patent 7,914,915, "Highly charged ion modified oxide device and method of making same." Inventors: J.M. Pomeroy, H. Grube and A. Perrella. Issued March 29, 2011.
** R.E. Lake, J.M. Pomeroy, H. Grube and C.E. Sosolik. Charge state dependent energy deposition by ion impact. Physical Review Letters. August 5, 2011. http://prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v107/i6/e063202.
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Survey of Baldrige Examiners Reveals Current Perceptions of Performance
Management and non-management personnel across a broad cross-section of U.S. organizations see eye-to-eye on mission, customer focus and commitment to success but differ significantly in their views on how to best measure quality of work and customer satisfaction. These are a few of the findings from a recent survey of nearly 500 members of the 2011 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Baldrige examiners are experts from industry, educational institutions, health care providers, government at all levels and non-profit organizations who volunteer many hours reviewing applications for the award, conducting site visits and providing each applicant with an extensive feedback report citing strengths and opportunities to improve. The Baldrige Performance Excellence Program asked this year's examiners to assess their own organizations using either the program's "Are We Making Progress?" or "Are We Making Progress as Leaders?" questionnaires, depending on whether or not the examiners worked in management. These survey instruments* are based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and allow an organization to gauge its progress in achieving high performance and define where improvements are needed to reach that goal.
The questionnaires ask employee respondents to gauge their level of agreement with statements related to the Baldrige criteria, such as, "I know who my most important customers are." Managers are quizzed on their perceptions of their organizations ("Our employees know who their most important customers are."). The 173 employees and 294 leaders taking the surveys were in strong and positive agreement, regardless of institution, on a number of factors, including understanding of the organization's mission, clear identification of most important customers and strong commitment to success. Both groups also matched up on areas where they perceived that the organization was not performing well, such as actively seeking input for long-range planning, using good processes to perform tasks and removing obstacles in the way of progress.
Perhaps most interesting were the areas where employees and leaders differed significantly in their perceptions. These included knowing how to measure work quality (78 percent of employees felt they had such knowledge while only 51 percent of leaders agreed that they did), using work quality measures to make improvements (74 percent of employees said that they did while only 43 percent of leaders recognized that ability), and feeling that customers were satisfied with work performed (85 percent of employees felt their work achieved this status while just 69 percent of leaders agreed). The one statement with a large response discrepancy where the leaders agreed more than the employees—84 percent to 69 percent—was "My boss and my organization care about me."
"The survey results indicate a lot of opportunity exists for better communication between leaders and employees, as well as improving performance measurement and overall organizational performance," says Harry Hertz, director of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program.
To see the complete results of the 2011 Examiners Survey, go to www.nist.gov/baldrige/publications/progress.cfm for the employee responses and www.nist.gov/baldrige/publications/progress_leaders.cfm for those of the leaders. Both sites also include results from an earlier survey of examiners to compare and contrast current perceptions of performance with those in the past.
* To access either or both of the two self-assessment tools, go to www.nist.gov/baldrige/enter/self.cfm.
Media Contact: Michael E. Newman, firstname.lastname@example.com, 301-975-3025
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NIST/JQI Researcher Ian Spielman to Receive 2011 Junior BEC Award
Ian Spielman, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute, a collaborative enterprise of NIST and the University of Maryland, was selected to receive the Junior BEC Award 2011 by the award committee of the biannual Bose-Einstein Condensation Conference for "the first experimental realization of synthetic magnetic fields and spin-orbit couplings in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates."
An atomic-gas Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) is a state of matter encountered at extremely low temperatures, on the order of 100 nanokelvins or less—more than one billion times colder than room temperature. BECs are nearly perfect quantum mechanical systems in which physicists can, among other things, study poorly understood phenomena important for materials with technological applications, without all the complexities of material systems.
The technique of creating "synthetic" fields, pioneered by Spielman and his colleagues, not only paves the way for using electrically neutral atoms to explore the complex natural phenomena involving charged particles in magnetic fields, but also may contribute to an exotic new form of quantum computing.
The Junior BEC Award goes to young scientists for high-quality independent research performed early in their careers. Winners receive €2,500 and a certificate detailing their achievements. TOPTICA Photonics AG, a privately held manufacturer of lasers and associated products, sponsors the prize.
To read more about the work for which Spielman was recognized, see the Dec. 15, 2009, NIST news announcement, "JQI Researchers Create 'Synthetic Magnetic Fields' for Neutral Atoms", online at www.nist.gov/pml/div684/synthetic_121509.cfm, and the March 15, 2011, NIST Tech Beat article, "First Demonstration of 'Spin-Orbit Coupling' in Ultracold Atomic Gases" at www.nist.gov/public_affairs/tech-beat/tb20110315.cfm#coupling.The awards will be presented at the Bose-Einstein Conference in Sant Feliu, Spain, Sept. 10-16, 2011. This will be the first presentation of the BEC Awards. The 2011 Senior BEC Award will go to Gora Shlyapnikov of the Université Paris-Sud, France, and the University of Amsterdam.
Media Contact: Mark Esser, email@example.com, 301-975-8735


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AllHipHop.com Exclusive Interview with Rico Love speaking on the Putting Together the All Star Remix of 'They Don't Know' Featuring Trey Songz , Ludacris , T.I. and Tiara Thomas as well as Producing some of the Hottest Comeback Singles for Artist such as Usher , Nelly and more.
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By 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment releaseFebruary 26, 2008
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Feb. 25, 2008) -- His call sign is "Big Dawg 17," but you might as well call him "Bloodhound 17" after Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Connell and his 30-man platoon sniffed out 16 buried ammunition and weapons caches over a 10-week period.
Connell has a reputation for being tough but fair. Currently in his fifth year as a platoon sergeant and his second tour in Iraq, Connell runs the 1st platoon of Battery B, Fires Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment platoon one way -- his.
Connell barks orders like a drill sergeant.
"Take Bravo 17 (an up-armored Humvee) down to maintenance and get it fixed," he bellows. "It blew cherry juice all over Route Lincoln."
His Soldiers understand perfectly, and hurry to follow his guidance.
"The man is determined," said Spc. Ronald Butler. "I'll just leave it at that."
Connell's platoon assumed responsibility for an area northwest of Baghdad in what used to be an al-Qaida stronghold that was a prime spot for hidden munitions and homemade explosives.
After a few days of searching his platoon observed suspicious holes near an abandoned building. Four days later the Soldiers seized munitions from two finds. In the first seizure, they captured a 2.75-inch rocket, 450 AK-47 rifle rounds and 150 heavy machine gun rounds. At the second site, the nabbed four tank rounds.
By the time Christmas rolled around approximately two months later, the platoon had sniffed out 16 caches, including one on Christmas Day.
"I had to shell out $150 to buy the platoon pizza," said Connell. "I promised them if they found a cache on Christmas, they'd get pizza from me."
Fires Squadron Executive Officer Maj. Tim Hunt asked Connell why he and his platoon are so successful in finding illegal munitions and weapons. Connell replied with typical bluntness: "Sir, we just kick a lot of dirt."
Connell, an artilleryman by trade, enlisted with the National Guard in January 1987. Four years later, he joined the Army's active-duty ranks. He said he has spent the majority of his 21-year career behind cannons.
The war in Iraq changed all of that. His first deployment was in northern Iraq, he said, and most of his time was spent raiding houses looking for suspected terrorists -- a duty normally considered a job for infantrymen. His colleagues say that experience has served him well in his current tour.
"I'm amazed at how knowledgeable he is of the area," said Spc. Matthew Pawlikowski, the platoon's armorer.
The platoon's largest cache to date was found in early February, the day after a car bomb exploded under a local sheik. The platoon took immediate action after receiving a tip, and after two hours of searching Connell found six 120mm mortar rounds and a complete 120mm mortar system buried beneath a staircase.
Another hour of searching yielded the discovery of a buried water tank filled with more than 4,000 pounds of munitions, including rocket-propelled grenades, grenades, detonation cord and mortars.
After this deployment is over, Connell said he hopes to spend time with his newborn son and pursue an assignment with the Reserve Officer's Training Corps program at the University of Montana, so he can pass his knowledge to the Army's next batch of young second lieutenants and teach them "to kick a lot of dirt."
The 2nd SCR is a U.S. Army Europe unit headquartered in Vilseck, Germany.


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Hello all,
I am wondering if any of you know of existing or upcoming
technologies, which would enable display of rich typography
(non-system fonts) on websites - without the user having the
particular font installed on his computer and still preserving the
text copy+paste function?
I am already aware of sIFR: http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/sifr/
But this technology is mostly suitable for headlines and I am
wondering if there is anything on the horizon that would bring some
extra possibilities into also displaying body text?
I am also very interested in hearing any strong arguments against it.
Safari (and I believe Opera) already allows you to do this: http://www.broken-links.com/2008/03/18/safari-31-introduces-web-fonts-fo... (also: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/cssatten)
Coming soon to Firefox? (https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=70132)
Hi Martina - I wrote an article on the downsides of using sIFR (even
for headlines). Please have a look as its use poses both
accessibility and usability challenges.
As for future support? At the moment there are two competing
proposals for supporting non-system fonts on the web: CSS3's @font
directive and Microsoft's proprietary EOT.
Both of those will only be available in browser's that support them.
Considering the amount of time it takes us to safely assume a majority
of the world has upgraded to a particular browser version I would say
we're 5 years off for full support and 2-3 years off for practical
progressive enhancement.
Sitepoint has a good breakdown of the issue as well:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Posted from the new ixda.org


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NHL Games
NHL Western Conference Playoff: Detroit Red Wings at Nashville Predators
Nashville failed to capitalize on several power play attempts to strengthen their lead, but in the end it did not matter, as their defense did a great job keeping Detroit in check. If Game 2 has as many penalties as the first game then expect a lot of power plays, but Detroit will have to take advantage or they end up down 2 games.
Feb 24, 2012
Venue Information
- Bridgestone Arena
- 501 Broadway
- Nashville TN 37203
More Details
Released - Friday, April 13 , 2012 at 7:30 PM Local Time
Official Website
TV Network - CNBC
Official Website
TV Network - CNBC


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Coming out has been good for Wanda Sykes.
For proof, tune in to HBO this Saturday night to watch her new stand-up special I'ma Be Me, which features 90 minutes of smart, hilarious comedy from a more relaxed, more authentic Wanda than we've ever seen before.
The comedian admits as much in one of HBO's behind-the-scenes video about the special, saying, "finally I'm being who I am, being myself, not caring what other people think."
Sykes, who stars in the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine,
Sykes garnered even more
In previous television appearances (this is her second HBO special), Sykes has avoided discussing anything too
But in this strategically timed special — Wanda's new Saturday night talk show
Sykes's new openness is also
The result is stand-up comedy at its finest.
A few lines from the special:
Sykes talks more about the healthcare debate in this preview clip:
Other highlights from the special include Sykes's opinion on the much-debated issue of whether
Then there's her Halle Berry joke…but I won't spoil that one for you.
The show drags a bit in the second half when Sykes talks about weight, waxing, and
If this is any indication of the quality of commentary we can expect from Sykes's new talk show in
Watch I'ma Be Me this Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10pm on HBO
Wanda's "press conference" announcing the special


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"I like the way my fig tree looks in the rain, when the huge leaves are heavy with the weight of the drops," writes David Camera, of Antioch. "Hopefully, we all will get some rain soon."
Submitting a picture: Send a high-resolution JPG file with your comments and the location where the photo was taken to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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China's Transition Occurring at a Critical Time
By Chris Maxey, Ryan Davis
November 13, 2012
Markets Fall Post-Election
Equity markets sank sharply in the days following the re-election of Barack Obama. The US blue chip indices suffered their worst two-day return of the year on Wednesday and Thursday. Ultimately, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the week down 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively.
President Obama won a slight majority of the popular vote in Tuesday's election, 50% to 48% for Mitt Romney, but more soundly defeated his opponent in the Electoral College. Obama won all but two of the so-called swing states, with his losses occurring in the historically Republican states of Indiana and North Carolina.
Congressional leadership remained split as Democrats retook the Senate and Republicans won a majority in the House. While the results in the house were expected, some observers saw an outside chance for Republicans to take control of the Senate. Ultimately, the party lost two seats to their rivals.
Tuesday's results bring major implications for both investors and citizens, the most immediate being negotiations over the debt ceiling and fiscal cliff. Some preliminary statements by the President and Congressional leaders suggest compromise may be feasible, although much work remains to be done. The late-week sell-off was likely triggered by a combination of fears over an inability to find resolution on these issues, as well as the prospect of higher capital gains taxes in 2013.
Economic and corporate data took a backseat to the elections and political punditry last week, but there were a few important reports nonetheless.
Earnings among major companies were generally positive last week, with companies such as WellPoint, Time Warner, Kraft Foods, Macy's, and Molson Coors Brewing Company surpassing analyst estimates. Still, very negative reports from J.C. Penny and Groupon offset some of this optimism. Overall, with the bulk of Q3 earnings season completed, approximately 70% of companies are beating estimates. This is in line with recent averages, although growth is still slightly negative at -0.1%. Revenue results have been far weaker, with just 40% of companies beating estimates.
On Monday, the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) released its monthly Non-Manufacturing Report on Business. The index slipped modestly from 55.1 to 54.2, but remained solidly in expansionary territory. Underlying trends in the report were not exceptional, as eight of the 10 component indices softened in October. New orders and business activity both declined sharply; at 54.8 and 55.4, however, both readings remain well above the 50-level which demarcates expansion/contraction.
One encouraging development in the NMI was a substantial 3.8 jump in the employment index. At 54.9, this index is also looking quite strong. Overall, the U.S. service economy appears healthier than the manufacturing sector. In ISM's manufacturing update last week, the PMI edged up to 51.7, well below the NMI.
Consumer credit saw another robust gain in September, as debt outstanding grew $11.4 billion. This was down from August's $18.4 billion level, but levels above $10 billion are generally quite strong. After contracting through 2009 and 2010, credit has expanded in all but two months in the past two calendar years.
Unfortunately, most of the recent credit growth is concentrated in student loans. Revolving credit, representing credit cards, actually contracted by $2.9 billion in September. This was the third such contraction in the past four months, although it has not shown up in consumer spending habits. Consumer savings rates have gone down as a result, as Americans continue to shun heavier debt loads, aside from educational expenses.
The U.S. trade deficit shrank to its lowest level in nearly two years in September. The trade balance of -$41.5 billion represented a contraction from August's level of -$43.8 billion. The bulk of this improvement was seen in petroleum goods, where the deficit fell by nearly $2 billion. More encouragingly, exports saw a sharp recovery following a very weak August report. According to Econoday, gains were seen in every major category except automotive exports.
Finally, consumer sentiment improved from already strong levels to 84.9 for the first half of November. This is the best reading since the financial crisis, with a 91.3 level in consumers' assessment of current conditions driving the headline rate. Expectations, while somewhat weaker, also improved in November. This data correlates with recent retail sales and personal spending data. Consumers appear more optimistic about the economy, despite continued weakness in the labor market.
China's Transition Occurring At A Critical Time
While the presidential election in the U.S. was on the forefront of most investors' minds, current events in China could be equally important to the global economy. China is going through a political transition at the same time as it seeks to rebalance its economy. Whether those efforts will be successful remains a great unknown.
As we mentioned last week, officials in China commenced the 18th national party congress to mark the official transition of power in that country. More than 2,200 delegates assembled to determine the leaders of the country for the next decade. Official announcements are expected on Thursday, one day following the end of the weeklong congress.
While the new leaders are unlikely to be a surprise, China is facing a number of important issues as this transition occurs. Global growth is slowing, major trade partners are contracting and social unrest is on the rise.
The good news for party leaders is that economic growth appears to have bottomed out in recent months. Indicators such as industrial production rose 0.8% in October, while retail sales increased 1.3%. On a year-over-year basis, retail sales are up 14.5%.
Source: Soberlook
One of the biggest priorities for incoming leaders will be to figure out a way to continue transitioning the country into a consumer-demand based economy.
The challenge is what is happening outside the country. Recent trade figures showed a 2.7% YTD decline in trade with European partners and a 1.8% drop in trade with Japan. Somewhat surprisingly, though, was a 9.1% increase in trade between China and the U.S. As long as the American economy remains in a state of slow, steady growth, China will benefit. If we jump off the fiscal cliff and see a sudden slowdown in the U.S. economy, China may be prone to the ill effects.
Officials are also aware that persistent inflation has left many common citizens in an unhappy spot. After peaking last year at roughly 6%, inflation began to subside as the economy slowed. Through October, consumer prices were up 1.8% in the past 12 months, while producer prices are actually down 2.8% in the same period.
Source: Econoday
China's new leaders will be required to tackle an aggressive agenda during the next decade. Transitioning the economy towards a retail-oriented, consumption base will be difficult in its own right. Officials will also be tasked with maintaining close relations with the U.S. and ensuring that any economic malaise in the U.S. does not cause deterioration in the Chinese economy.
the week ahead
There are several important economic reports next week for investors to watch. On Tuesday, the NFIB Small Business Optimism index is released, followed by PPI and retail sales on Wednesday. On Thursday, more inflation data is on tap with the CPI. Several important manufacturing series are also scheduled, including the Empire State Manufacturing and Philly Fed Surveys, as well as industrial production on Friday.
The Federal Open Market Committee releases minutes from its October 23-34 policy meeting on Wednesday. Traders and economists will scrutinize these transcripts for any clues in the FOMC's first meeting following the announcement of QE3. The most important decision is the impending conclusion of Operation Twist, whereby the Fed purchases $45 billion of long-term Treasuries per month. Many observers believe the Fed will leave these purchases open-ended.
Bond markets will be closed on Monday in observance of Veteran's Day, although equity markets will open.
Central bank activity is limited this week, with only Chile scheduled to meet. However, an important Eurogroup meeting takes place on Monday, in which the primary topic is expected to be Greece and its latest bailout program.
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Recep Tayyip Erdogan
"You can be sure that this award will encourage our struggle for human rights in regional and global sense," Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the award ceremony.
Erdogan said countries of the region could not turn their back to each other, and they could not remain indifferent to each other's problems.
Peace, justice, brotherhood and solidarity were in the best interests of every country, Erdogan also said.
The Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights is an annual prize founded by and named after Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.
The prize is awarded every year to one of the international personalities, bodies or organizations that have distinctively contributed to rendering an outstanding human service and has achieved great actions in defending human rights, protecting the causes of freedom and supporting peace everywhere in the world.
Turkey's prime minister said on Monday that Turkey was objecting to injustice and violence all around the world just for the sake of humanity.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government was facing criticisms not only within the country but also within some international circles just because it was objecting to violence and injustice all around the world.
"Therefore, our clamour is just for humanity," Erdogan said as he received Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights.
Erdogan said Turkey would never turn a blind eye to massacre of innocent people, particularly children, with modern weapons, and Turkey would not remain silent and indifferent to violence in the world.
"We will not remain silent to massacre of nine innocent civilians in the Israeli attack on Blue Marmara (aid ship last May)," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Turkey would continue to defend rights of people who faced injustice, violence and invasion in the Middle East and the world.
The Turkish premier defined human rights as universal and sacred for everybody, and said Turkey believed that it could not be peaceful if the Middle East was not peaceful.
"Similarly, if Africa is not in welfare, our welfare cannot be permanent," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Turkey was sincerely making its calls for peace under the auspices of the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative, and was sincerely working for peace at the United Nations Security Council.
Also, his government was carrying out accession talks with the European Union (EU) and trying to bring universal goals to both Turkey and the region, Erdogan said.
Erdogan also said Turkey wanted peace and justice in its region and the world, and if there was peace, compromise, stability and welfare, in the region, everybody would benefit from them.


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U.S. medical tourists are headed to Latin American health clinics to receive a controversial prostate cancer treatment not approved in the United States.
High-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU therapy, uses isolated bursts of near-boiling temperatures to attack cancerous tissues in the prostate through a rectal probe, The New York Times reported Friday.
U.S. HIFU, a company touting the treatment at international clinics, said the treatment provides an alternative to more conventional treatment without the sexual or urinary side-effects of other treatments.
The director of the U.S. HIFU, Dr. George M. Suarez, told the Times the treatment's $25,000 price tag is justified and claimed the treatment is an alternative to surgery or radiation with fewer side effects.
U.S. HIFU is sponsoring FDA-approved clinical studies to win approval for the treatment in the United States. Canadian and EU officials have approved the treatment.
Dr. Peter Scardino with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center told the Times the treatment does provide an alternative method but added that "for the treatment of the average ordinary prostate cancer, I think it's a second-class form of therapy."
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Explore further: New prostate cancer treatment to be evaluated