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CD-adapco is the world's largest independent CFD focused provider of engineering simulation software, support and services. We have over 30 years of experience in delivering industrial strength engineering simulation.
Advanced improvements in coupling methods of solid and fluid numerical softwares benefit considerably cardiovascular biomechanics investigations. Deformability of this complicated physiological system plays an important role in biofluid factors such as Wall Shear Stress (WSS). In the current work, taking advantage of recently developed bi-directional interaction tools between Abaqus and STAR-CCM+, a simulation of physiological pulsatile blood flow through aortic arch is implemented. Abaqus solves the computational solid mechanics problem corresponding to the arterial wall while STAR-CCM+ solves the computational fluid dynamics model of the blood flow. Realistic boundary conditions on both models are applied; velocity inlet and pressure outlets in fluid simulation and in-plane deformation of inlet and outlets are applied on the FEM part of the model. Due to variation in geometry of aortic arch in different individuals, a canonical geometry is adopted for this simulation. Biofluid parameters such as pressure, velocity and WSS are discussed as the results of the simulation. The importance of FSI modeling in cardiovascular simulations is highlighted by a comparison with the same model but without FSI considerations. This comparison shows differences which are not negligible. A previous model of a straight elastic tube is presented, corresponding to the wave transmission of a pressure pulse at the inlet, comparing the FSI numerical results with the analytical solution for an elastic tube.
[1] http://www.cd-adapco.com/sites/default/files/Presentation/12-madrid_0.pdf


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Software Scouting And Recon
Scouting and Reconnaissance in Software Development
Scouting and reconnaissance are two well known methods of discovery. By these means information and experience are gained when faced with the unknown. Experience is critical to writing good software. Experience allows you to correctly identify problems and address them. Scouting and recon for software development is a great way to gain experience and avoid the pitfalls of the unknown.
In the well known book �The Mythical Man-Month� Frederick P Brooks states:
Where a new system concept or new technology is used, one has to build a system to throw away, for even the best planning is not so omniscient as to get it right the first time. Hence plan to throw one away; you will, anyhow.
As the years passed and systems grew in size and complexity it became apparent that building a "throw away" as not the most efficient approach. In the 20th anniversary edition of his same book, Brooks states that developing a throwaway version is not as efficient as iterative approaches to software development.
In Extreme Programming Explained Second Edition, Kent Beck states:
"Defect Cost Increase is the second principle applied to XP to increase the cost-effectiveness of testing. DCI is one of the few empirically verified truths about software development: the sooner you find a defect, the cheaper it is to fix it."
Scouting and recon techniques are used to discover defects through experiments and to completely avoid the presence of the defect in the "real" software. These techniques work within phased or phasic development methodologies as well as within iterative methodologies and give knowledge and experience through their use.
Gaining Experience
There are many software development activities concerned with gaining experience. Some of these activities include creating proofs of concept, prototyping, and experimenting. I will refer to all of these activities as experiments.
How much effort should be placed in an experiment? Enough to gain the experience needed to get you to the next step.
Software Scouting
�Scouting� will be the metaphor. During the exploration of the American frontier, scouts were sent out ahead of the company to determine the safest path through unknown and hostile territory. Through software �scouting missions� one can save time and money, and reduce the risks to the company.
Brooks� first statement concerning building a "throw away" is akin to exploring the entire route first and then moving the company. His revised statement concerning iterative development is akin to scouting out a few hours (or days) ahead and returning to guide the company. This pattern of short scouting trips would continually repeat, making the technique both iterative and incremental. Through the scouting metaphor you can gain a certain feel for why building a "throw away" version is more costly than iterative development.
Scouting Tools
There are many ways to explore the unknown. These activities have many similarities. One of the key differentiators is the stage of software development in which the activity occurs. Following various "tools" for scouting are defined and the stage in which they are typically used is specified.
A "Proof of Concept" occurs after a solution has been conceptualized. Investigation is needed to gain confidence and verify the viability of the solution.
A "Prototype" is made after a design has been made. Investigation is needed to validate that the result of the design solves the problem. In software prototyping development activities are scaled back. In engineering prototypes may be scaled functioning models. In software there is no physical dimension so development activities are scaled back which include minimal effort for robustness and usually only implementing the
of the functionality. Also techniques to reduce coupling are skipped and cohesion is ignored as much as possible (Even though these activities are skipped the experience of prototyping bring to light how the software components should be coupled and an overall domain definition emerges that allows for better cohesion).
Ed Mauldin explains prototyping as thus:
�Prototyping is probably the oldest method of design. It is typically defined as the use of a physical model of a design, as differentiated from an analytical or graphic model. It is used to test physically the essential aspects of a design before closing the design process (e.g., completion and release of drawings, beginning reliability testing, etc.). Prototypes may vary from static "mockups" of tape, cardboard, and styrofoam, which optimize physical interfaces with operators or other systems, to actual functioning machines or electronic devices. They may be full or sub-scale, depending on the particular element being evaluated. In all cases, prototypes are characterized by low investment in tooling and ease of change.�
An "Experiment" occurs after software modules have been developed. Investigation into their behavior under varied conditions is needed. An experiment is conducted to observe the behavior.
A "Mock Object" is created during software implementation. Components have been developed and investigation into their behavior needs to be done. To isolate these components from the effects of other components the other components are replaced with "mocks" that have simple and specific behavior.
A "Driver" is created during software implementation. Components have been developed and investigation into their interfaces and usability need to occur. A driver is developed to interface with and drive the component. The interfaces or entry points of the components are confirmed correct and the pre-conditions of the components are exercised. The driver can validate the post-conditions of the component as well.
A "Stub" is created during software implementation. Functionality has been developed and investigation of the code paths needs to occur. Called interfaces are developed with the simplest means in order to return specific results and exercise the code paths of the caller. These simple interface implementations are stubs.
A "Simulation" is typically created after the system is implemented. A deliverable needs to be tested in various environments and conditions. A simulation of an environment is developed and it is used for testing. Common examples are simulated users, simulated load, simulated outages, and such.
When to Scout
Remember, scouting activities address the issue of gaining experience in unknown territory. These activities are not necessary when experience is present. Simply said, �If you know how to do the job, then do it!�
When one is in unknown territory scout ahead for information, then come back and apply the knowledge gained. Have enough discipline not to get distracted by the sights along the way. Stay focused, travel light, and get back to camp as quickly as possible.
Can you afford not to scout ahead? The answer to this question only comes at the end of the journey. Did you make it to your destination or not?
Scouting for Phasic Methodologies
One reason that experiments work is because they address issues and concerns in context and as they occur. It is a "learn as you" go approach. Below are some scenarios in which scouting can be used in a traditional phased or phasic methodologies.
Phase 1: Analysis and Requirements.
� Paper prototypes of the user interface . � Proof-of-concept of a requirement (i.e. the database must support 500 simultaneous connections).
Phase 2: Design.
� Refined paper prototypes of the user interface. Paper models of the architecture and model (i.e. UML).
Phase 3: Implementation.
� Develop an experiment for the �happy path� to discover boundaries and interfaces.
� Create prototypes ahead of implementing frameworks so that the framework's approach can be reviewed.
Phase 4: Testing.
� Create experiments to test scenarios.
� Create testing harnesses that allow for proxy users (a proxy user can be a user simulated by a computer program).
� Simulate extreme conditions such as system load.
(Testing is scouting ahead of the user to make sure the user�s experience will be a good one.)
Scouting for Iterative Methodologies
User Stories
Create a proof of concept to verify the User has conveyed their desires.
Project Planning
If the user story involves a User Interface, create paper prototypes of the interface to stimulate user input and direction.
Release Planning
Create a prototype to identify dependencies to facilitate iteration planning.
Iteration Planning
Create design prototypes using a modeling language such as UML.
Create stubs, drivers, and mock objects to increase confidence in the behavior of isolated units.
Create an experiment to observe object behavior.
Create a simulation to test things like performance under a heavy load.
This list is supposed to be thought provoking, not complete. The idea behind scouting is to perform some scouting activity when faced with the unknown. When doing experiments in conjunction with an iterative development methodology the experiments are "lighter" than they would be in a phasic development methodology if the customer/user is taking an active role. With the customer present one can prototype a user interface with a white board and some drawings. If the customer is not present then a prototype for a user interface is usually mocked up with some kind of computer aided drawing package or even a "quick and dirty" user interface is developed with a GUI building tool or scripting language.
Benefits of Scouting
Scouting brings light to a situation. Through scouting activities estimations become more accurate. The accuracy comes from the application of the experience, not from an improved ability to predict the future.
Scouting reduces coupling and improves cohesion. When writing software in the light of experience, the coupling between objects is reduced and the experience unifies the system's terms and metaphors which increase cohesion.
Scouting builds trust and confidence by eliminating incorrect notions and avoiding drastic changes in design and implementation.
Risks of Software Scouting
Is management mature enough to allow the proper use of an experiment and not try to �ship� the prototype and undermine the effort?
Is development mature enough to refrain from features creeping into the product because the experiment revealed something interesting?
Project Management Ensures Adequate Software Recon
Project Management should scout and see if their development environment can support activities that rapidly gain experience.
Probing questions include:
Are the software developers aware of all of the activities that can lead to experience?
Are the stakeholders aware of the benefits of prototypes and experiments?
Is everyone aware of the risks of not doing recon and the risks of doing recon? Remember, one of the risks of a prototype is that sometimes people try to ship it!
An interesting exercise would be to listen for concerns expressed by developers and ask them what activity would address their concern. Some concerns expressed by developers that can be addressed through recon are:
�If I just had time to write this right�
�I don�t think we know how difficult this is going to be�
�I really don�t have any idea how long this is going to take�
When a concern is expressed ask the developer what they would do to address it. Listen for solutions that bring experience and shed light.
Experience is key to writing good software. The sooner you discover a problem and correctly fix the problem the cheaper it is. Scouting ahead in software by using prototypes and experiments is a great way to discover the right path without risking the entire company to the unknown.
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Columbia Sportswear (Nasdaq: COLM ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 7. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Columbia Sportswear's revenues will wane -4.8% and EPS will grow 5.6%.
The average estimate for revenue is $500.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.14.
Revenue details
Last quarter, Columbia Sportswear reported revenue of $545.0 million. GAAP reported sales were 3.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $566.8 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
Last quarter, EPS came in at $1.88. GAAP EPS of $1.88 for Q3 were 5.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.98 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 44.7%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.1%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.8%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
The full year's average estimate for revenue is $1.67 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.96.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 481 members out of 524 rating the stock outperform, and 43 members rating it underperform. Among 204 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 195 give Columbia Sportswear a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Columbia Sportswear is hold, with an average price target of $53.93.
Selling to fickle consumers is a tough business for Columbia Sportswear or anyone else in the space. But some companies are better equipped to face the future than others. In a new report, we'll give you the rundown on three companies that are setting themselves up to dominate retail. Click here for instant access to this free report.
- Add Columbia Sportswear to My Watchlist.


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Jimmy Yancey
Jimmy Yancey- piano, composer, recording artist (1898-1951)
Boogie Woogie can best be defined as solo piano music based on the twelve or eight bar patterns, characterized by the repeated use of the bass figures. The Boogie Woogie piano craze had a short run of popularity in the late '30's and into the mid '40's where then it slipped back into a more straight blues style. There were but a few real players of the form, although scores of pale imitators. There is a story of a recording session in 1938 where the pianist just finished a song, with a strange tango bass in eight to the bar, with unusual harmonies, delivered in a quiet thoughtful mood. The engineer asked the name of the song, the player said "Yancey Special", leading right to "who's Yancey"? The player on this date was boogie woogie champion Meade Lux Lewis, talking about his mentor Jimmy Yancey, a most reluctant piano hero if there ever was one.Read more


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2016 Gaming, Vending & Kiosk Brochure
Power Factor IC's from Sanken
New Power Supply with LLC & SiC
New Power Supply Series: CWB
SWF Power Supplies - Additional Voltages Added
STR5A464D Non-Isolated Switching Power IC
BL0200 Series - 2ch LED Backlighting IC's
New Power Supply Series : SWG
Sanken at the PCIM Show with GLYN
New 1A DC/DC LED Driver IC (LC5710S)
Welcome to Sanken Power Systems (UK) Ltd
Sanken Electric is a leading global manufacturer of Power Semiconductors and Power Supplies.
In Europe, Sanken products are sold through the 100% subsidiary, Sanken Power Systems (UK) Ltd, which incorporates the Sanken European Technology Centre from where our European Customers' technical and commercial requirements are supported.
Our Products
Please refer to the products section of our website for details of the Sanken product range available. In addition to the standard products listed, we specialise in the custom design of power supplies and semiconductors for a wide variety of applications.
If you require any further information, please contact us directly or, alternatively, contact one of our sales representatives in your region.
Sanken Power Systems (UK) Ltd
Established in South Wales in 1989, we have over 20 years experience in the electronics industry. contact us


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The Outfield – Your Love – Video Of The Day [VIDEO]
Subscribe to 107.9 The River on
It's been covered by everyone from Less Than Jake to Katy Perry. It's been featured in nearly every 80s movie since the advent of the genre. A quarter of a century after it's original release, it's still getting millions of views on YouTube. Is there really any question about how much a$$ this song kicks? No, there isn't.


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Top Definition
"CEO I like fucking." The paradigm of an uber-hot, upper management female executive, with lots of potential in the bedroom.
OMG. Check out Marissa Mayer, the new Yahoo CEO. She's a total CEOilf. I'd tap that, except she's both married and preggo.
od uživatele Bobo the Love sponge 17. červenec 2012
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Marissa Mayer is a ceoilf
od uživatele Assweepay2 17. červenec 2012


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All Posts In » 2010 » September
San Diego Comic Con is staying put
It was announced today that Comic Con will be staying in San Diego. At least for a few more years. The new contract keep the convention in San Diego until 2015. Both Los Angeles and Anaheim aggressively bid on the largest pop culture convention. Comic-Con Director of Marketing and Public Relations David Glanzer said after the announcement, "We are grateful for the tireless efforts all three cities put into their proposals. In the end, we feel this decision is the best for all those who attend Comic-Con and for the organization itself. WE are happy that the community has worked with us to ensure that we remain here." The city of San Diego has a love hate relationship with the conference. The city probably hates the intrusion but loves the money. San Diego was talking about expanding the Convention center which hopefully they will do since they have outgrown theRead more →
Take your place in Team Fortress 2's "Mann-conomy"
Today, Valve announced a new "Mann-conomy" in Team Fortress 2. No more endless searching for special items – now, you can just buy them to end the chase quick. If you don't want to spend the cash (right now, everything is under $4.99), you can still get your items the old-fashioned way for free. The in-game store is good news for TF2 community members that create content – if yours ends up in the store, you get a cut of the profits. (The Polycount Pack, now available for sale, is a prime example of this.) I, for one, welcome our new fish-wrapped-in-newspaper-based economy. FollowRead more →
"Dragon Age: Origins" DLC bundled up and included with new disc
So, if you've been buying every Dragon Age: Origins DLC release, prepare to kick yourself. BioWare announced today that all seven expansions will be packed with the game when they release the Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition. To recap, that's over $100 of game content for a total price of $59.99. The bundle will be available for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on October 26. FollowRead more →
Trailer for Red Dead Redemption's "Undead Nightmare" DLC
John Marston's world is getting a little more undead. That's right, zombies are being added to the world in an addition to single-player mode. This trailer shows off the zombie nightmare, and ends with a promise that the DLC is coming "very soon." I won't lie, "very soon" can't be soon enough. I've been itching for a reason to return to the West, and a zombie plague seems like a good enough reason. FollowRead more →
Designers of "Fallout: New Vegas" talk art direction
Today, the team at Obsidian take you through the art direction of Fallout: New Vegas, due out October 19. Learn about their inspirations, and see some of the final product. It's lookin' pretty nice – I think The Rat Pack would feel right at home. Video Games | Fallout: New Vegas | The Art Direction Diary XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii FollowRead more →
Dead or Alive Dimensions for the 3DS
You can't see the 3D affect, but Team Ninja and Tecmo Koei have released a trailer to celebrate their Nintendo 3DS game, Dead or Alive Dimensions. The video will show you some gameplay and how the game is coming along. Enjoy! Video Games | Dead or Alive Dimensions | NC 10: Debut Trailer XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii FollowRead more →By GamingAngel in News No comments yet
Experience Star Wars in 3D
Think you have seen Star Wars every way you can? Know every line inside out? Lucasfilm has announced a new way for you to experience Star Wars. The Star Wars Saga will be converted to 3D. Lucasfilm will be starting with the series in numerical order starting with Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace set to be released theatrically in 2012. "Getting good results on a stereo conversion is a matter of taking the time and getting it right," said John Knoll, Visual Effects Supervisor for Industrial Light & Magic. "It takes a critical and artistic eye along with an incredible attention to detail to be successful. It is not something that you can rush if you want to expect good results. For Star Wars we will take our time, applying everything we know both aesthetically and technically to bring audiences a fantastic new Star Wars experience." I wouldRead more →By GamingAngel in Movies 2 Comments »
Can you perform Greased Lightnin?
Grease is well known for it's incredible lineup of songs that everyone loves to sing. To celebrate the release of Grease: The Game by 505 Games, they are holding a talent show on the official Facebook page. To enter, film yourself or a group performing any Grease talent. You could sing the songs, dance, cosplay or any combination as long as it celebrates Grease. Share the videos on the wall and 505 Games will pick a winner. Sorry only UK and Ireland gamers can enter. * First place will receive four tickets to Grease the Musical in London, including travel. * The top runners up will receive official Grease goodie bags, including the original movie on DVD, a t-shirt and film posters. * Every entry will receive exclusive Grease artwork, available only from this competition. So Pink Ladies grab your jacket and show 505 your singing skills! FollowRead more →By GamingAngel in News No comments yet
Remix OK Go, end up on Rock Band Network
Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games, makers of the Rock Band series, today announced a contest that invites fans of OK Go to remix their latest single, "White Knuckles," for use on the Rock Band Network. Luckily, the hard work of getting it on the Network isn't part of the contest – the winning entry will be authored for play by Harmonix professionals. Your only job is making the music for it. Having the remix available for download isn't the only prize – the winner will also receive a complete Rock Band 3 set (including drums, guitar, keyboard and microphone), an Xbox 360 to play the game on, and a copy of the latest OK Go album, Of the Blue Colour of the Sky (Deluxe Edition). Each week, OK Go producer Dave Fridmann will choose his favorite remixes and feature them on the band's website. Hopefully one of our readersRead more →
Star Trek Fans can cut Pizza warp speed ahead
Star Trek fans can now cut their pizza with warp speeds that only the U.S.S. Enterprise can handle. ThinkGeek.com is now selling the pizza cutter for $24.99. "After years of staring at the iconic shape of the Star Trek Enterprise we finally realized in one 'aha!' moment what the saucer section of the ship was best used for… cutting pizza!," said Senior Merchandiser Ty Liotta. "After a bit of ergonomic adjustment we ended up with the best pizza wheel on this side of the galaxy." The cutter is is modeled after the U.S.S. Enterprise. Honestly, I'm not sure how someone didn't think of this sooner. Could make a good stocking stuffer for any Star Trek fan. FollowRead more →By GamingAngel in TV 1 Comment »


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Since I am living in Malaysia now, I pay attention to Malaysia's economy. There are many reasons to be positive but the large consumer and government debt in Malaysia is a serious concern. They do have many administrators that say the right things, the question is going to be whether those statement define policy action or if they are ignored.
Wahid Says Ringgit Too Weak as Growth Improves: Southeast Asia
India and Indonesia have experienced large stock market declines and currency devaluations recently. The Malaysian Ringgit has declines 10% against the US $ in the last 3 months. Malaysia is holding up ok, but is venerable as these international loses of confidence often sweep over countries (and move from country to country).
There is a real risk that the current account could slip into a deficit for the first time since the fourth quarter of 1997, Macquarie Group Ltd. analysts said in a report this month.
"We are aware of this situation and we are aware of some of the measures to be undertaken to make sure that Malaysia remains in a surplus position," Abdul Wahid said, without elaborating on the steps. "It is still a surplus and we are managing it."
The surplus is narrowing on increased overseas investment and property buying, higher imports for infrastructure projects, lower palm oil and rubber export prices and the acquisition of new aircraft by Malaysian Airline System Bhd., the minister said.
The main foreign exchange earner recently seems to be selling property, that isn't a good way to be earning foreign currency (selling assets). It is ok to do this to some extent, but relying on large inflows this way is very risky (and self defeating over the long term if it is too large). Even though palm oil and rubber exports are declining a bit, I believe they are still strong sources of foreign currency so that is good.
Pitfalls in Retirement (pdf) is quite a good white paper from Meril Lynch, I strongly recommend it.
could safely spend 10% or more of their savings each year.
But, as explained below, the respondents most on target were the one in 10 who estimated sustainable spending rates to be 5% or less. This is significantly impacted by life expectancy; if you have a much lower life expectancy due to retiring later or significant health issues perhaps you can spend more. But counting on this is very risky.
This is likely one of the top 5 most important things to know about saving for retirement (and just 10% of the population got the answer right). You need to know that you can safely spend 5%, or likely less, of your investment assets safely in retirement (without dramatically eating into your principle.
The chart is actually quite good, the paper also includes another good example (which is helpful in showing how much things can be affected by somewhat small changes*). One piece of good news is they assume much larger expense rates than you need to experience if you choose well. They assume 1.3% in fees. You can reduce that by 100 basis points using Vanguard. They also have the portfolio split 50% in stocks (S&P 500) and 50% in bonds.
Several interesting points can be drawn from this data. One the real investment returns matter a great deal. A 4% withdrawal rate worked until the global credit crisis killed investment returns at which time the sustainability of that rate disappeared. A 5% withdrawal rate lasted nearly 30 years (but you can't count on that at all, it depends on what happens with you investment returns).
Related: What Investing Return Projections to Use In Planning for Retirement – How Much Will I Need to Save for Retirement? – Saving for Retirement
Countries that can still be travelled on the cheap
If you're keen to surf or lie on the beach you're all set to have an adventure for peanuts. As long as you steer clear of tourist-trap resorts, you'll struggle to spend more than $23.50 a day. Nourish your inner cheapskate and buy souvenirs away from the tourist areas; head to the central market in Denpasar or Ubud's Pasar Sukowati.
Eastern Europe used to be dirt cheap back in the good old days of the Cold War. Now that peace has broken out, costs are on the up. Poland, though, is still at the inexpensive end: a daily budget of $29 will easily get you around the country.
Poland is a nation that's been run over so many times by invading forces that it's become bulletproof. Now this EU member is on the rise, so get in quick before the prices go up for good. Rural towns are picturesque and cheap to visit; tiny towns like Krasnystaw in the Lubelskie region are a miser's wonderland.
If you're looking for a scuba-diving destination where you can put your entire budget into going under, Honduras is the place to be. With sleeping budgets as low as $12 a night and meals available for even less you can really stretch out the funds.
Sitting pretty next door to the Caribbean Sea, you'll have plenty of time to count your pennies as you sun yourself on the golden beaches. The developers haven't invaded quite yet, but you'd better get in quick, before the good old days slip into the past.
After snorkelling and kayaking around Roatan's West Beach, splurge on a visit to the Unesco-listed Archaeological Park of Copan; entry is $18.
Related: Great Time for a Vacation – Travel guide books – Traveling To Avoid USA Health Care Costs – Travel Photo blog
According to Sharpe, who is also the founder of Financial Engines, the typical 4% rule recommends that a retiree annually spend a fixed, real amount equal to 4% of his initial wealth, and rebalance the remainder of his money in a 60%-40% mix of stocks and bonds throughout a 30-year retirement period.
What's more, he shows the price paid for funding what he calls "unspent surpluses and the overpayments made to purchase its spending policy." According to Sharpe, a typical rule allocates 10%-20% of a retiree's initial wealth to surpluses and an additional 2%-4% to overpayments.
The only problem with what academia knows to be right and what's practical in the field — even by Sharpe's own admission — is this: "Many practical issues remain to be addressed before advisers can hope to create individualized retirement financial plans that maximize expected utility for investors with diverse circumstances, other sources of income, and preferences," Sharpe wrote in his paper.
Meanwhile, Stephen P. Utkus, a principal with the Vanguard Center for Retirement Research, agrees that the 4% rule is flawed. But he also notes, as did Sharpe, that there's no practical mechanism to replace it with and that further research is required.
I think this is exactly right. The proper personal financial actions in this case are not easy. The 4% rule is far from perfect but it does give a general idea that is a decent quick snapshot. But you can't rely on such a quick, overly simplified method. At the same time there are simple ideas that do work, such as saving money for retirement is necessary. The majority of people continue to fail to take the most basis steps to save money each year for retirement.
Related: Spending Guidelines in Retirement – How Much Will I Need to Save for Retirement? – Bogle on the Retirement Crisis
3. The payment ploy: A dealer might say, "We can get you into this car for only $389 a month." Probably true, but how? In some cases, the dealer may have factored in a large down payment or stretched the term of the loan to 60 or 72 months. Focus on the price of the car rather than the monthly payment. Never answer the question, "How much can you pay each month?" Stick to saying, "I can afford to pay X dollars for the car."
Some good advice. I bought my last car at CarMax which gave a good price and none of these tricks (I didn't have a trade in – I donated it) and I paid cash. They offered a great deal on a Toyota Rav4 when I was looking. I believe, those that are interested in getting the very best deal and are skilled and able to defend themselves from the dealer can do better than CarMax. But I would bet most people would be much better off using CarMax.
Related: Manufacturing Cars in the USA – Avoiding Phone Fees – Actually Free Credit Report – How to Use Your Credit Card Properly
The government has stopped some of the worst abuses by credit card issuers however, those financial institutions are not without ways of continuing to take advantage of customers, Credit-Card Fees: the New Traps
Banks already are reaping more fees on overseas transactions. Not only are they raising foreign-exchange transaction fees—the cost customers pay for purchases made in foreign currencies—but they are expanding the definition of what qualifies as a foreign transaction.
In the past, people who made online purchases from foreign merchants, or who traveled to a country where the purchases are often in U.S. dollars such as the Bahamas, were generally immune from paying such fees. But Citi and Bank of America recently imposed their 3% foreign-transaction fees on all foreign transactions—even if that purchase is charged in U.S. dollars. Discover Financial Services also began charging a new 2% for foreign purchases last year.
And there are ways to avoid annual fees. Citigroup is alerting some customers that it is assessing a $60 annual fee on their cards. The cure for that is simple. If you spend $2,400 on the card in a 12-month period, the bank will refund the fee.
I'll tell you a better way to avoid the abusive fees. Don't deal with the large banks that the government bailed out. My credit union offers a credit card with no annual fee without any minimum spending requirements, and many others do as well.
Related: How to avoid getting ripped off by credit card companies – More Outrageous Credit Card Fees – Sneaky Credit Card Fees – USA Consumers Paying Down Debt –
Five consumer laws you really ought to know if you live in the United Kingdom.
Your iconic white MP3 player, the totemic centre of your life, breaks down precisely 366 days after you bought it. The large electronics firm that sold you the MP3 player says that because the one-year guarantee had elapsed, there's nothing they can do to help you. You'll just have to buy another one.
if the player has been lovingly treated and has still conked out that suggests something may have been wrong with it at the very beginning.
It works like this. For the first four-five weeks you have a "right of rejection" – if the item you've bought breaks down, you can demand a refund.
For the next six months, you are entitled to replacement or repair of the goods. It is up to the retailer to prove there was nothing wrong with it if they wish to get out of having to do the work. And then after six months, there is still a duty to replace or repair faulty goods, but the onus is on you, the consumer, to prove that there was something wrong.
And the key time span is six years. That's how long goods may be covered by the Sale of Goods Act. It all depends on what "sufficiently durable" means. If a light bulb goes after 13 months, the consumer is not going to be overly gutted.
Extended warranties are general a very bad personal finance move. I never purchase them. Many companies push them on customers because of the large profit margin and because they don't want to provide value to customers.
Related: 10 Things Your Bank Won't Tell You – Ohio Acts to Protect Citizens from Payday Loan Practices – Save Money on Printing – Don't Let the Credit Card Companies Play You for a Fool – Student Credit Cards
China's economy continues to grow quickly. It looks as though that, along with the slump in US car sales, likely will lead to China taking the world sales lead for cars (I would imagine for the first time ever the USA has not held this title). China 2009 Vehicle Sales May Rise 28% on Stimulus:
China has boosted auto sales this year through tax cuts and subsidies as a part of a wider 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus that has shielded the country from the worst of the global recession. U.S. sales have slumped 28 percent, pushing the old GM and Chrysler LLC into bankruptcy. Last year's total was 13.2 million, compared with 9.4 million in China.
Partially due to the strong internal Chinese demand (and partially due to Chinese regulation) India actually exports more cars than China. 5 times as many cars are purchased in China as are bought in India.
Indian Car Exports Beat China's
In contrast, China's exports slumped 60 percent to 164,800 between January and July, according to government data. Vehicles produced in Thailand for export declined 43 percent to 263,768, according to the Thai Automotive Club.
South Korean exports dropped 31 percent to 1.12 million units, according to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. Japan, the world's largest automobile producer and exporter, shipped 1.77 million cars, trucks and buses.
Related: The Relative Economic Position of the USA is Likely to Decline – Manufacturing Cars in the USA – Rodgers on the US and Chinese Economies
One factor you must understand when evaluating economic data is that the data is far from straight forward. Even theoretically it is often confusing what something like "savings rate" should represent. And even if that were completely clear the ability to get data that accurately measures what is desired is often difficult if not impossible. Therefore most often there is plenty of question about economic conditions even when examining the best available data. Learning about these realities is important if you wish to be financially literate.
Bigger U.S. Savings Than Official Stats Suggest
A closer look, however, shows that Americans have tightened their belts more sharply than the numbers report. The reason? Official figures for personal spending include a lot of categories, such as Medicare outlays, that are not under the control of households. They also include items, such as education spending, that should be treated as investment in the future rather than current consumption.
After removing these spending categories from the data, let's call what's left "pocketbook" spending – the money that consumers actually lay out at retailers and other businesses. By this measure, Americans have cut consumption by $200 billion, or 3.1%, over the past year. This explains why the downturn has hit Main Street hard.
Finally, for technical reasons the BEA throws in some "spending" categories where no money actually changes hands. The biggest is "rent on owner-occupied housing," the money that people supposedly pay themselves for living in their own homes. Despite the housing bust, this number rose by 2.6% over the past year, to $1.1 trillion.
A closer look at BEA numbers shows that Americans reduced spending by 3.1% in the past year, indicating that the savings rate has risen to 6.4%
He raises good issues to consider though I am not sure I agree 100% with his reasoning.
Related: The USA Should Reduce Personal and Government Debt – Financial Markets with Robert Shiller – Save Some of Each Raise – Over 500,000 Jobs Disappeared in November (2008)
A recent Pew poll found that 21% of Americans planned to grow their own vegetables, 16% had held a garage sale or sold things online and 10% had either taken in a friend or relative or moved in with one. Pundits are coining phrases such as "austerity chic" and "luxury shame". Four-fifths of Americans told the BCG they would defer big purchases that can wait.
The beneficiaries of the new parsimony are, unsurprisingly, firms that offer low prices. The only two stocks on the Dow Jones Industrial Average that rose in 2008 were Wal-Mart and McDonald's.
The hangover from this party will be long and painful. Households' total outstanding borrowing fell in the fourth quarter of 2008, for the first time since the second world war. The personal-saving rate rose to 4.2% in the first quarter of 2009, from a nadir of minus 0.7% in 2005. "It is easy to see how consumer deleveraging could result in hundreds of billions of dollars-worth of forgone consumption in coming years," say Martin Baily, Susan Lund and Charles Atkins of the McKinsey Global Institute.
American consumers are burdened by far too much consumer debt. And spending on non-essentials with debt is un-wise and creates personal risks and a weak (fundamentally) economy. It is true the current economic data will look good when people spend money they don't have. But it just creates a huge burden for the future economy to cope with.
Related: USA Consumers Paying Down Debt – Too Much Personal Debt – $2,540,000,000,000 in USA Consumer Debt


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Yemeni security forces have arrested a woman suspected of sending two allegedly al-Qaeda linked parcel bombs after surrounding her house in Sanaa.
The arrest came a day after two packages sent from Sanaa containing explosives and addressed to Jewish places of worship in Chicago were intercepted on cargo aircraft in Dubai and East Midlands airports, triggering a massive international security alert.
"The girl arrested is a medical student at Sanaa University and she was arrested with her mother in a neighbourhood in the outskirts of Sanaa," a Yemeni security official said.
Her father is a petroleum engineer who works with


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Concert pianist Anthony Cornet remembers in the mid-90s when he was about 6 years old attending a concert of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra.
That season a piano concerto soloist accompanied the symphony orchestra at every concert, he said.
"I can remember being absolutely stunned, because I was only playing two- or three-minute pieces at the time and here was this soloist playing a big, in some cases 40-, 50-minute piano concerto, and I thought that was absolutely impossible and it was something that was more or less a gift people had as opposed to something that one could actually work toward so I thought, 'Oh, that's just impossible, that's not feasible,'" he said Tuesday.
On Saturday, Cornet will take the seat where those mystical maestros of his childhood once sat.
The Altoona native is appropriately the guest artist in the final concert of the ASO's 2013-14 season, "Powerful Finale Celebrating the Spirit of this Great City, Altoona."
The table turning "really means a lot" to Cornet, he said. The moment is "sort of a testament to the work I've done, but also the teachers and friends and families that have supported and helped me all the years."
Fact Box
If you go
What: "Powerful Finale Celebrating the Spirit of this Great City, Altoona" presented by the ASO
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mishler Theatre, Altoona
Tickets: $30-$35, adults; $13-$15, students, includes fees. Tickets can be purchased through the Mishler Theatre box office, 944-9434.
Cornet, 24, said his father, Rick Cornet, a local piano teacher, introduced him to music.
"I owe much of my success to those early years studying with my dad. Everything from Carnegie Hall to this Saturday's performance stems from his early patience and dedication with me at the piano," Cornet said.
Cornet, a 2008 Altoona Area High School graduate, debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2012, the same year he graduated from Temple University Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance, Philadelphia.
He is attending Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in pursuit of a master's degree.
In the fall, Cornet will start a fully funded doctorate in music at Shenandoah University in Virginia, where he will get to work with world-famous pianist and faculty member John O'Conor, he said.
The music for the ASO concert Saturday at the Mishler represents "two of the best known works from the Romantic period of classical music," Maestra Teresa Cheung said in an email. "Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 is an all time favorite of anyone that enjoys piano music, and Dvorak's Symphony No. 8 is probably one of the most well known works by the composer, with heaping beautiful melodies from beginning to end."
"I think this is a rather fitting way to close our concert, with beautiful melodies and a wonderful local young artist, Anthony Cornet," she added.
Over the six seasons Cheung has headed the symphony orchestra, she feels she has "gotten to know Altoona and the wonderful people in town," she said.
When asked how the city's sprit is handling the rough times of late, Cheung said, "I think it is fair to say that both the city and the rest of the world have had rough times of late. The world is moving forward at an unbelievable pace and it is leaving everyone breathless. It seems like we are barely able to catch up."
While the city has gone through changes in the last few decades, it is looking to the future, Cheung said.
"I am impressed by the resilience of our citizens, and how hard they work to preserve the values that they hold true," she said. "People are extremely giving and community oriented, and they value the arts and treasure things that have intrinsic values. They are very mindful to maintaining strong family values and cultivating their future generations. All these are great attributes of the people in the city."
Cornet is an example of that giving spirit.
For several years, he has performed the concert series "A Special Evening with Pianist Anthony Michael Cornet" to raise money for numerous organizations, including the ASO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Blair County and the Miracle League of Blair County.
He is planning another fundraising concert next season, he said.
"Altoona has so many merits going for it, especially the symphony in particular. We're very fortunate here in Altoona to have a symphony or ensemble that is the quality it is, in addition to being directed by Maestra Cheung," he said. "I have nothing but good memories of Altoona and the people I grew up with and such a loveable place to grow up in Central PA."
The people of Altoona "are rather low key and modest with their achievements," and Cheung has heard numerous times how the ASO is a best-kept secret, she said.
"If one looks around in cities similar to Altoona in the US, one will be hard pressed to find another city that has their own regional level symphony orchestra," she said. "I feel strongly that it is the orchestra's responsibility to share the secret with the rest of the country. In a world where arts are being left out from school curriculum, and when people tend to place their value on things that are short lived, it is all the more important to let the world know that the arts still matter in Altoona."
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Gabeletto is at 949-7030.


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by Margaret Wander Bonnano
Bonnano, 30, author of A Certain Slant of Light, creates a modernized Tree Grows in Brooklyn in her second novel. It is the story of four generations of women, viewed in the context of feminist themes. The grandmother is cruel and obsessed with religion. The mother is depressed and impossibly self-centered. The daughter—the novel's main character—is determined to avoid the patterns of her mother and grandmother and not hand down to her own children a burden of guilt. The family starts in Newfoundland, and the best parts of the book tell of the harsh life there, the poverty that drove the people to the States and into Brooklyn, where they settled in an ethnic enclave. (Bonnano was born in Brooklyn and now lives on Staten Island.) This is a most satisfying, old-fashioned story—the kind of novel that used to be called "heartwarming." (Seaview, $11.95)
Picks and Pans Review: Ember Days
updated 09/08/1980 AT 01:00 AM EDT
•originally published 09/08/1980 AT 01:00 AM EDT


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Islamic militants detonated a truck bomb outside Somalia's Ministry of Education Tuesday, killing at least 70 people.
Dozens of others, including parents and students who were waiting on word of scholarships, were wounded in the attack.
The vehicle blew up after pulling up to a checkpoint at the entrance to the building, according to witnesses.
Ali Abdullahi, a nurse at Medina hospital, said they were treating people with horrific wounds, including amputated limbs, burns, and patients who lost their sight in the attack.
"It is the most awful tragedy I have ever seen," he said. "Imagine dozens are being brought here minute by minute. Most of the wounded people are unconscious and others have their faces blackened by smoke and heat."
"The explosion has not only affected the targeted place, but even passer-by people and car passengers died there," Ali Muse, chief of Mogadishu's ambulance service, said.
"The death toll may increase and we are still carrying many dead bodies," he said.
The blasts shattered more than a month of relative calm in Mogadishu. The al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack on one of its websites.
"Our Mujahideen fighters have entered a place where ministers and AMISOM foreigners stay," al-Shabab said in a post on a website.
They were referring to the Ugandan and Burundian forces who make up the African Union peacekeeping mission.
The bomb was the biggest attack since the insurgent group withdrew from the city two months ago. It was not clear whether the ministry building was their intended target.
The Somali government said that no senior government official was wounded in the bombing.
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Police: Woman steals car, breaks into home, hides under bed
Laconia police find woman hiding inside
UPDATED 7:44 AM EDT Apr 18, 2013
Laconia police said they arrested a woman after she allegedly stole a car, broke into a home and hid from police.
Wednesday afternoon, officers were called to a home in Appleton Street for a report of a possible burglary.
Inside they found Mackenzie Seeley, 24, hiding under a bed.
Police said she drove a stolen car from Meredith to the home.
Copyright 2013 by WMUR.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Editor's note: Comments published in
the Open Line reflect the views of the caller, and not The Sentinel. Comments are verified when
possible, but should be taken as opinion, rather than statements of fact.
Comments should be brief and to the point. Longer comments will be shortened.
Comments in response to signed letters will not be printed. Callers do not need to identify themselves.
I would like to know whose job it is to pick up the deer along the highway, the Pennsylvania Game Commission or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Editor's note: According to the Game Commission's Southcentral Region Office in Huntingdon, the answer is "both." If the road is a state road, PennDOT is responsible for removing dead deer. On any other road, the Game Commission gets the call.
To record an Open Line comment, call The Sentinel's voice mail system at 248-7041 and select mailbox 160 on your touch-tone phone. Listen for the prompts and please speak slowly. Selected responses will be published.


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A strong chemical smell coming from a mobile home near Summerville led to the discovery of a meth operation Monday, according to the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies visited a home on Marie Lane in the Woodoak Mobile Home Park after neighbors complained about the smell, Chief Deputy Sam Richardson said. Deputies called in the narcotics unit and the DEA task force, who found two types of meth labs inside, Richardson said. Agents said they identified a red phosphorous method lab and a one-pot method lab.
The resident, Amy Burgio, was arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.
Peter Ward of Sellars Circle was charged with possession of marijuana.


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More projects from Barbara Deckert's classes on Craftsy:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Hipster, Funky, Mod
What was your source for this sewing project?
Online Photo or Website
Name of website or photo Vogue 1264
What advice would you give someone starting this project? To get a pattern sized up beyond a 20 or to fit any pattern to any size body, take my class, "Plus SIze Pattern Fitting and Design." Coated linen is "challenging" to work with. I pre-laundered all these fabrics so I COULD hand launder this jacket if I wanted to. Somehow, pre-laundering the linen helped remove it's sticky, rubbery surface feel and rendered it just shiny and slightly crinkled looking, and it was easier to sew.
I loved this pattern when it came out, but didn't think I could make it as it isn't near my size. Seeing your jacket, and being half-way through your wonderful class, I realize I can make it!
Very classy. Thank you for sharing it with us. Your class gives me hope that I can actually make clothes that fit my pyramidal body.
Lovely! I might have to add this to my list...which now, thanks to YOU, is getting longer and longer! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us!


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My maternal grandfather smoked cigars and pipes and lived to be 98.
My paternal grandfather smoked cigarettes and died of complications from emphysema in his 50s. He was also crippled as he had contracted polio as a child.
The smell of cigars and pipes bring back childhood memories for me. I have enjoyed and smoked the occasional cigar, usually Macanudos, but not recently. I also occasionally smoke a cigarette.


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I agree: Women are stronger than Men!
I was having a conversation with my wife and a female friend of hers and some how it turned into this cock fight - I don't know how we got into the topic but before I knew it two women were telling me that "women are stronger than men"… That men could not survive without women.
Ofcourse instinctively my mind went into defense mode and I was thinking of all these witty come backs:
Men have always been stronger - just look at caveman…
If women are so strong why do you need us to open a jar…
If women are so strong, why doesn't that teenage girl golfer ever win against the men…
If women are so strong why …and then it hit me, that empty shell I call a brain stopped and I looked at my son, looked at my wife and told my wife's friend :
"your right, women are stronger than men. If only because no man could endure the process of natural child birth…"
They both looked at me, smiled, gloated and forgot about it and went on with what we were originally discussing. Now I can't speak for every man - but hey, I admit it - if the human race survival depended on me [ a man ] giving birth to children - say goodbye to the human race.
Family fun, happy children, fun learning, funny children and Walt Disney, Sea world, vacation trips, get me a camera! Express yourself.
Learn more about: My new Book - order now!
Women are stronger than Men!
I agree: Women are stronger than Men!
5 comments:
dude dude dude, I'm right there with you budy. I can't STAND people who think like that.
Look at this convo I had with my ex along those same lines:
Rachael: Women are better equiped to hunt.
Me: (supporting her ideas like I always do) That may be true, women have a higher tolerance for pain.
Rachael: so do you know why men go to war and women stay home?
Me: Why?
Rachael: Because it only takes one man to impregnate many females, but a female can only be pregnant once at a time. Women are more valuable than men.
Me: The reason why men protect the women is because there is nothing more defenseless than a pregnant female.
Rachael: Way to take something positive I was saying about women and making it sexist.
For more: things rachael and I argue about
- September 9, 2008 at 8:12 AM
- Cloudsters said...
Hey, amusing illustrated strip. I'm always impressed about the multi-media nature of your posts, with comic visuals, or video, or some such. Keep 'em coming!
- September 10, 2008 at 5:42 PM
i am a bodybuilder and strong man been lifting for 8 years. my friend she has been training for 1 year and she challenged me to a pushup competition, i managed 44 where as she did 62 despite the fact my muscles are 3 times the size of hers. this means that women are proportionately stronger
- May 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
- Ashley said...
Im a girl and I believe that based on physical strength yes men can be stronger, but emotionally, mentally, and physcially no....because we can multitask like no-one's business, are bodies are built to handle the most extreme form of pain (delivering a baby)and we can keep the family strong and together when everything around us is changing...like husbands and fathers being deployed we do not have time to sit around and be depressed,sad,worried,angry about it we have to keep it hidden and take care of everyone(kids,family) else around us(while we're dying/breaking inside from the pain), we have to keep the house running as smoothly as possible without any doubt that our love one's will return, and if they dont and we get the news we cant just breakdown and give up we have to keep going for the sake of our children and other family members and cry when no-one is around(children)because it will only make it worse....So in that aspect yes.....
But my father said when he is in a firefight he would rather have a woman by his side fighting because a woman will fight her "ass" off until the very end because over their woman who are captured are used as a sex slaves and are raped
as for the caveman comment: women developed agriculture and during that time women not only cleaned the house but farmed and bearing and rearing children...when bearing children still had to farm and gather food and when that baby came the next day the mother had that baby with her while she still did everything else
- June 25, 2009 at 12:45 PM
My wife and I started wrestling one night, she was saying that she was stronger and I told her that she will be sorry she started this, when I win I will put you bare assed over my knee for a spanking. I was winning initially but her endurance out lasted mine and when all was said and done she beat me. As I stood dizzy and exhausted she sat on the couch pulled me to her and pulled down my gym shorts then asked, what was that you said you were going to do to me before we started? With that she turned me over her knee and proceeded to give me my first spanking from her, many more have followed since that fateful night.
- June 9, 2010 at 7:41 PM


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TYFA is sponsoring an online survey to gather statistical information about our children and families. Your participation is confidential and anonymous. You may answer as many or as few questions you are comfortable with.The intention of the survey is to gather data from parents, grandparents or primary caregivers of gender variant and transgender children under the age of 18. This would include children who identify as transgender, both genders, a third gender or neither gender. We hope to include a broad section of children with gender expression that is perceived as 'different' from their assigned birth sex.
From this survey we hope to gather information regarding the prevalence of families dealing with gender expression difference, the age of onset, if any type of social or medical transition has been undertaken, etc.
One of the obstacles TYFA often faces in our educational workshops is the lack of statistics to support the work we are doing. The data gathered will enable us to publish more current and accurate information about our children and families as well as support our requests for more formal/comprehensive studies.
You can find the link to the survey at the bottom of this page. Please forward the survey link to families with gender 'different' children, organizations, counselors, medical practitioners, social service personnel or anyone who may come in contact with these children/families. The broader the response the more useful the data gathered will be.
Thank you so much for sharing this important project with others. We hope to publish the results in early 2009.
Click here to complete survey


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Molokai Middle School is developing pride in its robotics program and a reputation as a force in the youth robotics world in Hawaii.
The Molokai Middle School's Golden Eyes robotics team took the overall first place Champions Award at the Hawaii FIRST LEGO League Championship at the Neal Blaisdell Center on Oahu on Saturday.
In a sweep of the top spots in the state championship by Maui County, Carden Academy's Mindreapers took second place in the competition for 9- to 14-year-olds with more than 50 teams from around the state.
Article Photos
Molokai students Kaitlin DeRouin (from left), Erik Svetin, Caele Manley and Lily Jenkins work with their robot Golden Glory. "We gave our robot the name Golden Glory because glory means to honor, and it is always important to honor our senior citizens," said DeRouin. The Molokai Middle School team captured first place in the Hawaii FIRST LEGO League Championship on Oahu on Saturday.
Ethan McGregor, team member for Carden Academy's Mindreapers, practices with his team's robot Old Man Jenkins. Carden Academy's team finished second in the Hawaii FIRST LEGO League Championship at the Neal Blaisdell Center on Oahu on Saturday.
"Maui did fantastic," said Tammy Bexton, a volunteer coach for Carden.
Although FIRST LEGO League is about competing robots, winning the championship involved more than building the best robot. Teams were judged on core values and their project as well as robot design.
Bexton described the robot "missions" as more like a pass/fail grade. To be eligible for the Champions Award, teams had to score in the top 40 percent of competitors.
Each robot had three missions of 2 minutes each. The robots, which run autonomously by programming without a driver, were given tasks such as knocking down bowling pins and raising levers on weightlifting machines or TV video monitors.
Molokai was the last of the 52 teams to go on the field and finished in the top 12, said Heidi Jenkins, Molokai robotics coordinator. She added that contest organizers changed the scoring this year to make sure the champions were strong in all judging components, not just in robot performance. The emphasis on the "overall" body of work instead of just how the robot scored was a change that Jenkins welcomed.
The Molokai team name, playing off the James Bond movie "GoldenEye," also reflected its conceptual project - Golden Glasses. With this year's FIRST LEGO League theme being "Senior Solutions," the six-member Friendly Isle contingent researched and developed conceptual glasses using face-recognition software to help the elderly remember the people they see. Their designs called for a microcomputer attached to the glasses and a heads-up display in the eyewear that would show the name of the person and his or her relationship to that person.
The team cited Facebook tagging and Google Glasses to prove that their invention was possible, Jenkins said.
"The team researched the issue of memory loss associated with aging that may leave senior citizens feeling less connected and engaged with their family, friends and community," said Jenkins.
In honor of the kupuna, the team named its robot "Golden Glory."
"We gave our robot the name Golden Glory because glory means to honor, and it is always important to honor our senior citizens," said team member Kaitlin DeRouin, a 6th-grader.
The Molokai robot technicians and researchers have been to the state championships for the last five years and have captured some division titles along the way, but never the top prize, said Jenkins. And the Maui County champions were a little disappointed when an award they thought they might win went to another team.
"When that award came and passed . . . they didn't think they were going to do well," said Jenkins. "There was always the hope to win. . . . They were pretty humble. I don't think at that point they knew their name was going to be called."
But it was.
The victory means that the Molokai team has qualified for a national competition, likely the LegoLand California Invitational in Carlsbad in May, said Jenkins.
The team members included Erik Svetin and Lily Jenkins, 8th-graders, and Noah Keanini and Katy Domingo, 7th-graders, Molokai Middle; Caele Manley, 7th-grader, home-schooled; and DeRouin, Kaunakakai Elementary School.
David Gonzales was the team head coach. His assistants were Jennifer Whitted and Sarah Jenkins, a 10th-grader from Molokai High.
Jenkins attributed the team's success to the robotics experience of the team members, the emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) over the last several years in public schools on Molokai, the support of the community, and Maui Economic Development Board and 21st Century grants.
She noted that the first students in the robotics program that began five years ago are now in high school, which is offering its first electronic engineering class. There also is a full-time STEM teacher on staff.
Team members have put in 600 hours including weekends since August, which is a commendable commitment for the youths that would not have been possible without the support of families, Jenkins said.
"It definitely takes a village," said Jenkins. "Every single parent was supportive."
And so was the village, she said. The community is sharing in the achievement of the robotics team from Molokai. People are talking about their young robotics champions in town.
"It's definitely a point of pride for the school and island," said Jenkins. "There is a sense of pride. Hooo, our Molokai kids can."
There is that same kind of pride on the Pukalani campus of Carden Academy on Maui, which was making its second appearance at the state championship.
"It was very nerve-racking, but in the end it was a real accomplishment finishing second," said Mindreaper team member Louisa Buckingham, a 6th-grader.
The rest of her team included Cecilia Buckingham, Antonio Mason, Ethan McGregor, Ansel Newman, Finn Spencer, Jeffrey Spencer, Ryder Tremble, Daniella Wittenberg and Jacob Wittenberg.
The volunteer parent coaches were David McGregor, Bexton and Gloria Buckingham. They were assisted by volunteer parents David Wittenberg, Alice Tremble and Uli Montague.
The Mindreaper's robot was named Old Man Jenkins, after the elderly fish on the "SpongeBob SquarePants" cartoon, said Louisa Buckingham.
For its project, the team developed the Keiki Kupuna program that matched seniors with youths to create long-term relationships in the hopes of combatting loneliness, said Bexton. The students also helped seniors get acquainted to modern technology with the goal of giving seniors the skill to connect and reconnect with family and friends online.
The team worked with kupuna at Roselani Place in Kahului. The students even set up a website, keikikupuna.com.
"It was a unique thing for me," engaging with senior citizens, said Louisa Buckingham, whose grandparents live in California.
"I was kind of scared," she said in the beginning. "I was nervous talking to seniors."
That changed with more interaction.
"They are kind of like little children, talking to them," she said. "It was fun and funny."
The cost of two robots was paid by a grant from MEDB, which also lent the team a laptop. There also were fundraisers and some box top redemptions, said Bexton.
"I had a lot of fun," said Louisa Buckingham. "I want to do it again."
Seabury Hall Spartanbots placed first in the Strategy & Innovation Division. Kamehameha Schools Maui's Mechanical Menehunes also qualified for the state championships.
* Lee Imada can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
Created in this Craftsy class
Get rolling and learn to cover round, square and heart-shaped cakes in smooth fondant. Plus, create sweet fondant flowers, ribbons, bows, molded accents and more!
Other projects made as part of this class:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Cake Decorating
|Any Occasion
Share a little about the materials, processes and techniques used to create this cake: I taped two 12' cake boards together so I can add my fondant (that I tented with neon pink and white ready to roll fondant), I rolled the fondant out and then I imprinted it with the graceful vines mat and I cut away the extra fondant and here is my board.
What are you most proud of? This is my very first time working with fondant and I covered a cake board.
This is a great use of the fondant impression mat, and a great way to add a little extra detail to your projects.


text: Swiss Military Calibre Men's 06-4H1-04-007 Hawk Chronograph Black Textured Dial Rubber Strap Watch Flag this deal What's the matter? Choose a reason Dead deal Duplicate Bad link Spam Inaccurate No value Alive again Edit deal natarajansaktive Jan 27, 2013 I am going to give this as a Gift to my Brother in law. Thanks for sharing this Good Idea deal Reply Load More Comments


text:
Replacement for Model Aqua-Pure PW-RO2
Aqua-Pure TFM50EM RO Membrane Replacement
$109.59+ Free Shipping*
Special Order. Ships in 8 days.
The Aqua-Pure TFM50EM RO Membrane Replacement is an encapsulated reverse osmosis membrane filter that reduces arsenic, copper, lead, sediments, contaminants and other metals in your drinking water. This reverse osmosis membrane replacement is also known as part number TFM50EM.
The Aqua-Pure TFM50EM Membrane fits the following Aqua-Pure Drinking Water Systems: Aqua-Pure PW-RO2, Aqua-Pure PW-RO4L and Aqua-Pure PW-R06. The reverse osmosis process removes organic matter and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) by diffusing water through a special membrane.
Aqua-Pure TFM50EM RO Membrane Replacement Product Reviews :Write a review
- Not reviewed yet
|TFM50EM is used in the following Models
Aqua-Pure PW-RO2
Aqua-Pure PW-RO4L
Aqua-Pure PW-R06


text:
email@example.com wrote:
> Greetings!
> I need a new desktop, I want to dual-boot linux and windows. I'd like
> a raid1 protection, and I need to be able to access windows ntfs from
> Linux.
> Reading through forums on-line, I can see a lot of people complaining
> about broken/nonexistent support for sata2 raid (aka fakeraid, pseudo-
> raid, semi-software raid, $#1T-raid, etc).
> Also a lot of complaints for hardware probing timeouts during boot.
> I am particularly interested to know if the latest Linux kernels (say
> 2.6.20) have got support for such fake-raid SATA2 raid controllers as
> Jmicron and Intel ICH8R.
Well, dmraid ( http://people.redhat.com/~heinzm/sw/dmraid/) is intended to
be used in such cases.


text:
Hey guys,
Bought a bunch of grass-fed steak tips at the farmers market this past weekend. I've gotta marinate them before I grill them, so any one have a good recipe for some primal marinades? I know theres a list of 10 primal marinades on mark's site, but nothing really jumped out at me. Any ideas/recipes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Try this one from all recipes.com: Best Steak Marinade in Existence Recipe - Allrecipes.com
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons dried basil
1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon dried minced garlic (optional)
Place the soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, basil, parsley, and pepper in a blender. Add hot pepper sauce and garlic, if desired. Blend on high speed for 30 seconds until thoroughly mixed.
Pour marinade over desired type of meat. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. Cook meat as desired.
(I use organic tamari instead of soy sauce)


text:
Correspondence: Dr Wang, Department of Dermatology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Financial Disclosure: Dr Devlin is a compensated member of the Nucletron scientific advisory board. Dr Wang is a compensated member of the ImmunoGen scientific advisory board.
Previous Presentation: This article was presented at the 2010 Society for Investigative Dermatology Meeting; May 5-8, 2010; Atlanta, Georgia.
Additional Contributions: Elizabeth Martin, BA, and Jay Omobono, BHS, provided technical support.
Figure 1. Clinical Resolution. A, Right lower extremity cutaneous metastases are outlined in green. B, An untreated distant metastasis on the right ankle (circle) resolved after brachytherapy to lesions on the upper half of the right lower leg.
Figure 2. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) resolution. A and B, From left to right, maximum intensity PET projection, axial PET, axial CT, and axial fused PET/CT images. Arrows point to the untreated right ankle metastasis before (A) and after (B) brachytherapy to metastases on the proximal half of the right lower leg. F indicates the imaging perspective: from the foot toward the head.
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