text:
us on a 6 week extreme jungle adventure to
help protect the endangered Orangutan in one of the oldest and most
rainforests in the world. Working with the New Orangutan Rehabilitation
Project, we head deep into the jungle to help construct rope bridges,
hides and
viewing structures. Location for BBC TV series "Orangutan Diary", we
also trek into the jungle to track released orangutans.
Click top right, to watch our video for more details. Come and join us, make a real difference!
Survival Training—
Begin your jungle adventure with our intensive training in jungle
survival, first aid, navigation and evacuation scenarios. This is the
opportunity to prove that you're tough enough to survive the remote
wilderness that awaits. You will also learn about conservation in
action by visiting the low land orang-utan clinic to learn about
orang-utans, their habitat and the threat from humans.
Project Work—
Next, travel deep into the jungle to the release site, an adventurous 3
day journey upriver by various forms of transport. Our orangutan
reintroduction project is in a remote location in the centre of
Indonesian Borneo, in a designated release area covering 35,000 hectares
of primary protected lowland rainforest. For the next 4 weeks you will
help our monitoring research team with a number of physically
challenging projects including rope bridge construction, hides and
lookouts and information posts. You will also assist the team with their
monitoring efforts.
Jungle Trek— To
reward you for your hard work (and to REALLY test your survival skills)
you'll head off on a 5-10 day trek into the unexplored Borneo jungle.
You'll see incredible creatures, stunning views, be swinging through the
trees, jumping into plunge pools and clambering through undergrowth.
The Trek is in one word...unforgettable.
When can I go: March- October
How long can I go for: 6 weeks
Cost: from £2,900
What is included:
South America Explore •
South Africa Explore
Call Us On 020 7384 3028 Email


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I love sunsets and one of my wishes for the next home we lived in was to be able to see beautiful sunsets.
Thank you Universe!
I love sunsets and one of my wishes for the next home we lived in was to be able to see beautiful sunsets.
Thank you Universe!
Beautiful x
Absolutely gorgeous!!
A magic moment! x
And is that a reflection in water? How great. Enjoy the new house.
You live in a beautiful place. I hate flying and always said I never want to go on a long trip, outside Europe. But since a few months I am tempted to discover New Zealand. It is too beautiful. You are very lucky…
So, so beautiful. Words cannot even describe it. You have been blessed.
Indeed! I do love it when a wish comes true … makes dreaming all worthwhile. Thanks for sharing!
I nearly moved this year and would have had amazing skies too, but sadly it wasn't meant to be yet! My cottage is very low down in the village and I can't see sunrises OR sunsets unless I drive out somewhere, hence my love of your picture! Please share more occasional sky pictures over the coming months I for one would just love it, this is beautiful and I hope you & KB will be very, very happy in your new home with Raymond! Enjoy…. xxxx
Wowee, beautiful! So, so well done for following your dreams.
I've also been looking at the lovely socks you made for KB – you're so clever – they're even neat where you pick up the stitches at the heel. I've just made my first pair of socks, partly inspired by you, and started my second, and it's so hard not to get little holes there! I'm loving doing it though, and I'm sure they'll get better with each pair!
I wish you and KB (and Raymond of course) every happiness in your new home
Jane x
Now you just need to make a Mandala in sunset colours… that would be stunning, what do you think?
Oh so wonderful, I'm so happy for you all xxxxxxxxxx
And water views too! 🙂
I'm looking forward to your new season of blog posts from your new home and new season in your life. ENJOY THE BLESSING!
wonerful photo and how wonderful to be able to see such a sight. Pleased for you.
Sunsets are rather lovely, arent they !!! We have beauties over here too.. l never tire of looking out to the west.. Unfortunately we have a very high hill over to our east so we cant see the actual sunrise. , so our sunsets have to make up for that loss.
Best Wishes..
Beautiful picture, Thanks Alice.
Now that really IS a sunset. Stunning.
Crol xx
Lovely view! You can only see the sunset in the sky from our front door – it does look good though.
I would love to know what wool it was the first picture of your last post – those muted, chalky colours.
Good luck in your new house. A hug for Raymond.
Awesome picture!!! u r so lucky to have your wish granted!!!! :-))
Hurray for dreams realized!
Beautiful and awe inspiring.
lucky you !
enjoy it !
Just stunning!! Good luck with your new home.🙂
OH, and I never got to tell you you got me into spinning and I just LOVE it!! I got several orders of polwarth from maudeandme's etsy shop. Thank you for doing that interview back in the days.🙂
xx Tanne
WOW!! What a beautiful world we live in! Thank you God, the great creator!
I too am a sunset,sunrise lover.. Great Picture Alice!!!! Yes Thank You Universe. That pic made my day. My home is now cloudy and rainy so I really Needed that pick up…. Send more anytime.
OMG!! that is awesome……thanks for sharing. you truly got your wish…….
Dear Alice, KB and Raymond… Can I move in with you please? :)x
Hello Alice,
What an amazing site!!!!!!! Do you or KB paint? You are in the right place for such an painters paradise. Sending only the warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. Take care your friend from Texas
Ask and the Universe shall provide! Just lovely!
OMG, Magnificent!!!!
Very happy for you Alice!!!! It's stunning!. x Pati
Oh my, is that your view how amazing! How will you ever tear yourself away from it. ♥
Oh wow! That is truly amazing! It's as if the sky is on fire with those beautiful colours!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
GRANADA - Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman football mentor Lee Dallager literally weathered the longest halftime of his prep coaching career this weekend.
After building a 14-6 lead over Alden-Conger by intermission Friday night, Dallager, his Jaguar players and the visiting Knights exited the Granada gridiron between 8:30-9 p.m. due to lightning.
Fifteen hours later, quarterback Josh Wolter snuck across the goal line from 1 yard out to generate the only points of the second half on Saturday morning to cap GHEC/Truman's 20-6 Southern Confederacy Conference triumph over Alden-Conger.
Article Photos
MAINTAINING BALANCE — Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman quarterback Josh Wolter (2) maintains his balance while getting tackled by Alden-Conger linebacker Wyatt Ladwig during Southern Confederacy Conference football action Saturday in Granada. The Jaguars' Ryan Shumski (right), along with the Knights' Trevor Kluender (81) and Jacob Wallin (75), watch the action. (Photo Courtesy of Sue Petrowiak)
"It's definitely the first time that I've ever been able to eat breakfast during halftime," Dallager said jokingly.
"Unfortunately, between the opening kickoff (Friday night) and this morning, (running back) Jared Green tweaked his high ankle sprain and wasn't able to go," Dallager added.
Green did, however, produce 52 yards on 11 carries during his limited stint on the field Friday night, including a 4-yard scoring run that snapped a 6-all tie in the second quarter.
Quarterback Josh Wolter, who rushed for the important 2-point conversion after Green's TD, accounted for GHEC/Truman's first points on Friday night by firing a 19-yard scoring strike to receiver Josh Johanson during the first quarter.
Alden-Conger then knotted the game at 6-all later in the opening segment when running back Matt Erickson broke loose for a 55-yard scoring run.
Johanson then weaved and sprinted his way for a 56-yard run to reach the Knights' 11 just before halftime, but unfortunately for the Jaguars, the long gain did not lead to any points.
The next morning, however, GHEC/Truman nose guard Jared Wander, along with ends Ryan Shumski and Logan Pytleski, provided the pivotal third-quarter defensive stand to slam the brakes on Alden-Conger's early march downfield.
Wander and Shumski combined on a sack of Knight quarterback Brady Neel for a 2-yard loss during the visitors' first possession of the second half, but the junior signal-caller responded by completing an 8-yard strike to slotback Wyatt Ladwig to near midfield.
Shumski then delivered a sack for a 6-yard loss five snaps later before Pytleski's end rush dropped Erickson for a 2-yard loss off an option toss to force a Knight punt.
Jake Wolter, who produced a game-best 125 yards on 15 carries, later left Alden-Conger defenders grasping at air after slicing, juking and slipstreaming his way for back-to-back runs of 26 and 24 yards to reach the Knights' 48.
Running back C.J. Hodge later pounded out a 7-yard gain, Josh Wolter reeled off six more to reach the 5 before Hodge cut the distance in half as the third quarter expired.
The Wolter brothers then covered the final 3 yards, with Jake Wolter reaching the 6-inch mark on a run up the middle before Josh Wolter notched the official 1-yard TD on a keeper with 11:23 left in regulation.
Pytleski delivered a sack for a 7-yard loss during Alden-Conger's ensuing offensive series to create a punting situation, while the Knights later countered when Neel scooped up a Jaguar fumble.
Jake Wolter also produced a fumble recovery for the Jaguars during Friday night's first-half action.
Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman (5-1, 3-0 Southern Confederacy) squares off against Nine-Man Section 2 and conference rival - No. 7-ranked Nicollet (6-0) - at 7 p.m. Friday night in Granada.
Alden-Con 6 0 0 0 - 6
GHEC/Tru 6 8 0 6 - 20
1st Quarter
GHEC/TRU - Josh Johanson 19 pass from Josh Wolter (kick failed).
AC - Matt Erickson 55 run (pass failed).
2nd Quarter
GHEC/TRU - Jared Green 4 run (Josh Wolter run).
3rd Quarter
No scoring.
4th Quarter
GHEC/TRU - Josh Wolter 1 run (run failed).
Offense: Rushing: Jake Wolter 15-125, Jared Green 11-52, C.J. Hodge 10-30. Passing: Josh Wolter 2-9-0-44.
Defense: Fumble recoveries: Jake Wolter (GHEC/T), Brady Neel (AC).


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Edison police are investigating the theft of one of their cruisers, which was missing from the lot behind the municipal building for at least six days until it was found today near Roosevelt Park.
The cruiser was found undamaged with no signs that it had been broken into or hot-wired, police Director Brian Collier said.
Because it was a fully-equipped and marked police cruiser, Edison had to report the car as stolen and notify several agencies, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Collier said.
"A marked cruiser in the wrong hands could be problematic," Collier said.
Investigators were checking the car for fingerprints and attempting to determine who had access to the vehicle prior to its disappearance.
"It does not appear to have been abused or misused," Collier said.
The car is assigned to the department's community resource officer and was last used either July 2 or 3, Collier said. When the officer came to work for a July Fourth holiday shift, he discovered the car was missing, Collier said, while declining to identify the officer.
Police initially suspected the vehicle had been towed to a department impound lot with other older cruisers, but officers later determined the car was missing, Collier said. He said the car was located about noon near a wooded area at the end of Koster Boulevard, more than two miles from the municipal building.
Asked if another officer may have taken the vehicle, Collier said, "we really can't say at this time. We are tightening up the timeline as to who may have had access."
Before it was taken, the cruiser was parked in the large lot behind the municipal building just outside the area where most cruisers are kept. There is no barrier or fence separating the lot for police cruisers from the rest of the parking lot, Collier said. He said the department began a review last month to improve security of police vehicles.
Edison police have about 120 vehicles, and about 75 are marked units.


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Find the distances of selected nature reserves near Durban for your South African self-drive holiday. Come experience the scenic splendour and amazing wildlife of South Africa's Nature Reserves.
Tala Game Reserve is a malaria-free wildlife sanctuary which stretches over 3 000 hectares of pristine natural plains and grasslands. Tala is close to Pietermaritzburg and offers plains, grasslands and rivers.
Midmar Dam and Nature Reserve offers accommodation near the shore line and has facilities for canoeing, sailing and windsurfing. Activities also include oating, fishing, water sports, swimming and game viewing.
Thula Thula Game Reserve, an eco-safari destination and wildlife sanctuary, is the oldest private game reserve on the Elephant Coast, Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Giants Castle Reserve is a hiker's paradise, with a wide range of exciting hikes to suit all levels. Accommodation at Giants Castle Reserve offers breathtaking views of deep valleys, grassy plateaus and craggy mountains.
Maphelane is located in the south of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Accommodation is in Self-catering log cabins, camping and caravan sites. Activities include ski-boat, surf fishing, self-guided walking trail and birding.
Hluhluwe Game Reserve is the oldest Game Rerserve in South Africa. View the Big Five in Hluhluwe Game Reserve as well as several more elusive animals, such Wild Dog, Giraffe, Cheetah and Nyala.
Imfolozi Game Reserve is situated in Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park covering 96 000 hectares and is home to Africa's Big Five and an abundance of African Wildlife. Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is world renowned for its White Rhino conservation.
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is a world Heritage Site and located just two hours from Durban and four hours from Gauteng. It offers scenic beauty, great hiking and a spiritual atmosphere.
Nambiti Plains Private Game Lodge is built into an indigenous forest that lies on the edge of a waterhole and provides the perfect getaway for a sublime Big Five safari or a conference near the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Cape Vidal is located in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Highlights include beach and ocean activities, nesting turtles and wildlife viewing. Accommodation is in beach log cabins, camp sites and a bush lodge.
Falaza Game Reserve is located along the Elephant Coast in Kwazulu-Natal. Falaza offers Rhino Tracking, game drives and bush walk, relaxing spa treatments, conferencing and much more.
Ubizane Wildlife Reserve is every nature lover's paradise with over 450 species of bird, as well as a variety of game, including White Rhino, Giraffe, Wildebeest, and most species of antelope.
Bonamanzi Game Park is uniquely located next to the World Heritage Site of Lake St Lucia about 15 minutes from the town of Hluhluwe. There is no place that offers so complete an African experience as Zululand.
Thanda Private Reserve provides a big game experience with sought after Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard amongst the very entertaining Wild Dog, Cheetah, Hyena, Warthog and plains game as well as an abundance of bird life.


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HOUGHTON - As with law enforcement agencies around the country, Copper Country police departments will be especially diligent during the coming holiday week watching for possible inebriated drivers, but the number of road patrols will be the same or increase, depending on the department.
Houghton Police Chief John Donnelly said although officers will be looking out for possible drunken drivers, the department won't be putting any more patrols than normal on the streets of the city.
"We're going with regular staffing," he said.
Article Photos
Kurt Hauglie/Daily Mining Gazette
Houghton Police Officer Angela Tomasi works on the computer Monday in one of the department's patrol vehicles. Local and state police agencies will be watching for drunken drivers during the next week, particularly New Year's Eve.
Donnelly said Christmas Eve isn't a time when there's an increase in drunken drivers.
"That's not typically a problem," he said.
However, Donnelly said New Year's Eve can present an issue with an increase in drunken drivers, especially for people who decided on the spur of the moment to stop at a bar or a party.
"That's when we have more problems," he said.
He expects to have two or three officers on patrol for the coming week.
Processing someone who was stopped for drunken driving can take two and a half to three hours, Donnelly said. The person's breath and or blood has to be tested, and if the person is arrested for drunken driving, there is the time needed to book that person into Houghton County jail.
At this time of year, Donnelly said patrol officers have to watch out for snowmobile riders who may be riding in the city while intoxicated.
The Houghton County Sheriff's Office will not be doing anything special on the roads of the county for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, according to Sgt. Joshua Saaranen.
"We'll have our normal patrols during the holidays," he said.
However, Saaranen said the sheriff's office, which patrols 24 hours per day, could have an extra car on the roads.
The Michigan State Police does increase the number of personnel working the roads of the state during the holidays, and Sgt. James Revoyr said that's the case at the Calumet post.
"We are having an extra two people working on New Year's Eve," he said.
However, Revoyr said although there are more people driving during the holidays, the MSP is finding there has been a decrease in the number of people stopped for possible drunken driving. Many are either using a designated driver or they're taking taxis home after celebrating.
"People are being more responsible," he said.
The MSP will begin its extra patrols next week, Revoyr said, because Christmas Eve isn't usually a problem as far as drunken driving is concerned.
"People are usually home."


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If so, I'm hoping my next two posts will seal the deal. If not, they should at least persuade you to add this remarkable continent to your list of potential destinations. My husband and I spent 12 days in Chile and Argentina following our April 25 wedding. Since the seasons are opposite ours below the equator, it was fall in these countries—but that's actually a beautiful time to visit, especially if you plan to be active. And active we were. We started out with four nights in Chilean Patagonia, at the Explora lodge located inside Torres del Paine National Park. During our first two days we hiked a total of 20 miles. We got up close and personal with a gigantic glacier and conquered a steep climb to the base of the park's namesake towers ("torres" in Spanish).
I know what you're thinking—a honeymoon is supposed to be about rest and relaxation. You're right! And we had plenty of that later in the trip. But here's something to think about when you're planning your postnuptial vacation: I discovered that my wedding high lasted for almost a week after, meaning that rather than nursing exhaustion I was filled with adrenaline those first days away. And these exciting and challenging excursions were the perfect way to channel that energy. I think I would have gone crazy lying on the beach for that portion of the trip (though fatigue caught up with us later, so it's definitely important to plan some downtime no matter how ambitious you are).
There are other benefits of embarking on an adventure together. Nothing beats the sensation of achieving a goal with your new husband. And at the end of an active day you don't feel bad about indulging in fine food and wine, which is a highlight of Explora and the other places we stayed. I'll admit we did start to slow down by the third day, opting for an easy hike to a lookout over a lake and horseback ride through the pampas (plains) after a traditional Gaucho barbecue. And by the time we said goodbye to Patagonia and headed to Santiago, we were definitely ready for some urban diversions. We spent only one night in Chile's capital, at the luxe Ritz-Carlton, but hiring a tour guide for the day let us hit all the main sights—Plaza de Armas, Parque Metropolitan, the poet Pablo Neruda's house—and still have time for a steaming bowl of pastel de choclo (Chilean corn pie) at a cafe in the bohemian Bellavista quarter. Then we were off to another remote part of the country, the Atacama Desert, which I'll write about it my next installment. —Elaine Stuart, senior associate features/travel editor, Modern Bride


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This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
Testimony on State Nursing Home Complaint Investigations by Mike Hash
Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Before the Senate Select Committee on Aging
March 22, 1999
Chairman Grassley, Senator Breaux, distinguished Committee members, thank you for
inviting me to discuss our continuing efforts to improve protections for nursing home
residents. I would also like to thank the General Accounting Office (GAO) for its
important evaluations of State responses to consumer complaints about nursing homes and of
additional steps needed to strengthen enforcement of Federal quality standards. And I
would like to thank the Office of the HHS Inspector General for its reports on nursing
home issues, as well.
We have made substantial progress in improving nursing home resident protections. The
GAO's new reports, Complaint Investigation
Process Inadequate to Protect Residents and Additional Steps Needed to Strengthen
Enforcement of Federal Quality Standards, look at States where problems are most
serious over a time period before we had implemented most provisions of the nursing home
enforcement initiative that we announced last July. We undertook our nursing home
enforcement initiative in response to intolerable situations that have caused our most
vulnerable citizens to suffer. The initiative includes several steps to:
The new GAO reports again document intolerable situations, and make clear that we must
take additional steps to protect nursing home residents. We must ensure that States
improve responses to and tracking of consumer complaints. We must also improve consistency
in handling terminations of facilities. These and other new steps must be incorporated
into our proactive initiative to ensure that nursing homes comply with care and safety
We generally concur with the GAO's
recommendations, and are already taking actions to address them. Specifically, we
HCFA Administrator Nancy-Ann DeParle and I both met last week with the Board of
Directors of the Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies, which represents State
survey agencies, to discuss the problems with complaint investigations and stress the
urgency of improving all enforcement efforts.
We will take additional steps to address problems identified by the GAO, and to ensure
that nursing home residents are safe and receive quality care. We will continue to work
with the States, Congress, residents and their families, resident advocacy groups, and
nursing home providers to ensure that nursing home care and safety standards are met and
the vulnerable residents are protected.
Protecting nursing home residents is a priority for this Administration and our agency.
We are committed to working with States, which have the primary responsibility for
conducting inspections and protecting resident safety. Some 1.6 million elderly and
disabled Americans receive care in approximately 16,800 nursing homes across the United
States. Through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the federal government provides
funding to the States to conduct on-site inspections of nursing homes participating in
Medicare and Medicaid and to recommend sanctions against those homes that violate health
and safety rules.
In July 1995 the Clinton Administration implemented the toughest nursing home
regulations ever, and they brought about marked improvements. We monitored those
protections as they were implemented to see what else needed to be done. We and the GAO
found that many nursing homes were not meeting the requirements, and many States were not
sufficiently monitoring and penalizing facilities that failed to provide adequate care and
protection for residents. In July 1998, President Clinton announced a broad and aggressive
initiative to improve State inspections and regulation enforcement. Those efforts are
bringing about marked improvements as well.
The GAO reports examined events through December 1998. Since that time period we have
implemented many aspects of our new enforcement initiative. We are grateful that Congress
has provided essential funding for this initiative, and we look forward to working with
you to secure the $60 million increase for this initiative in the President's fiscal 2000 budget, as well as our legislative
proposal to require background checks of potential nursing home employees and establish a
national registry.
Consumer complaints are a valuable and unique source of information about the health
and safety of nursing home residents. We have been concerned about problems with State
survey agency responses to complaints, and in 1995 we developed complaint investigation
protocols for States in order to foster improvement. However, the GAO report makes clear
that these protocols are not sufficient.
We therefore have taken two new actions. First, we directed all State survey agencies
to investigate any complaint alleging actual harm to a resident within 10 working days. We
also stressed that States must promptly enter complaint information into our data system.
We will monitor State reporting of complaint information more closely to make sure they
Second, we initiated a Complaint Improvement Project to identify key elements of the
complaint process, address resident and consumer concerns about the process, and develop
standards for prioritizing complaints and determining appropriate time frames for
investigations. We will work to address concerns of residents, their families, consumer
representatives, and representatives of the Administration on Aging's Ombudsman program in this project.
As stated above, we generally concur with the recommendations in the GAO reports, and
are taking action to address them. We agree that:
Standards for Prompt Investigation
The GAO found that States categorize serious complaints alleging situations that harm
residents as less than a complaint about immediate jeopardy to residents. The GAO also
found that States do not always investigate these complaints promptly, or at all. Its
report calls for new standards for prompt investigation that include maximum allowable
time frames for investigating serious complaints and for complaints that are deferred
until the next survey schedule.
Therefore, effective immediately, any complaint that alleges actual harm to an
individual in a certified facility must be investigated within 10 working days of its
receipt. We also stressed to States that all complaint data must be entered in a timely
fashion into our On-line Survey, Certification and Reporting data system (OSCAR). We will
develop more standards and long-term improvements as we further analyze complaint
investigation processes. We believe that States have the resources they need to meet these
new standards. If additional resources are needed, however, we will re-examine our
priorities, or the Administration will work with Congress to make sure the funds are there
to do the job right.
Our new Complaint Improvement Project will help us to understand the key elements of
the complaint investigation and resolution process. We believe these key elements include:
Using this analysis, we will develop Federal minimum standards and produce a manual for
States describing each element of a model complaint investigation process, how States
should implement the process, and necessary training and staffing levels.
In addition, we will specify measures we can use to strengthen Federal monitoring and
audits of State performance, including the elements that should be included in a Federal
complaint investigation reporting system and database. And we will explore other changes
needed to strengthen Federal oversight, enhance the responsiveness of the complaint
investigation process, and ensure the welfare of beneficiaries.
Oversight of State Complaint Investigations
We agree with the GAO that investigations need to be watched more closely by the
Federal government, and that States are not sufficiently setting priorities for
investigating complaints. Importantly, as mentioned above, we will now have Regional
Office staff conduct surveys to verify nursing home resident complaints when necessary.
This means that a complaint from a resident now can directly trigger a standard survey by
Federal surveyors.
We are improving Federal oversight of State complaint investigations. We are now
outlining actions we will take when States do not meet their survey responsibilities. We
will specifically evaluate how well States respond to consumer complaints and how promptly
and thoroughly they report investigation results to us to determine whether they meet
their survey responsibilities. And, as part of our Complaint Improvement Project, we will
identify the most effective ways for us to monitor State processing of complaints.
HCFA regional offices are now required to maintain logs of complaint information
reported by the States. If we confirm that these logs are not being maintained, as
reported by the GAO, we will take immediate steps to correct this omission.
As part of the Nursing Home Quality Initiative, we made it clear that States will lose
Federal funding if they fail to adequately protect residents. States must adequately
respond to complaints, or we can and will contract with other entities to conduct surveys
and enforce regulations.
Federal Access to Complaint Investigation Results
The GAO found that States are not reliably reporting results of complaint
investigations to us, and that these findings are therefore not taken into account when
considering other actions. States are currently required to report this information, and
we are taking action to ensure that they comply.
We have directed the States to immediately enter all current and backlogged complaints
into the OSCAR data system regardless of whether the complaint is entered into a State
licensure system. We will closely monitor States to ensure that the information currently
required is actually entered into HCFA's
database. We will include reporting of complaints as a new performance evaluation element
for States. And we will revise the current complaint form so it provides the information
needed to facilitate Federal monitoring of State performance, prioritization, and
Improving Effectiveness of Fines
The GAO found that fines are not always an effective enforcement tool. We agree that
appeals must be processed more quickly so fines can be collected more quickly. Fines need
to be imposed for each instance of a violation. And they need to be imposed for serious
problems even if the problems are quickly corrected.
We support the President's efforts to speed
appeals and collections by the Health and Human Services Departmental Appeals Board, which
operates separately from HCFA. Providers are entitled to a hearing before fines can be
collected. Increased enforcement efforts have resulted in a large number of cases awaiting
appeal hearings. The President's fiscal year
2000 budget proposal would double the number of Administrative Law Judges that can hear
appeals cases in order to speed the appeals process and ensure that fines and other
sanctions are adjudicated in a timely manner.
As announced last July, we have developed a new regulation to enable States to impose
fines for each instance of a violation regardless of the amount of time the facility was
out of compliance with requirements. This regulation was published in the Federal
Register on March 18, 1999, and is effective 60 days after publication. This
additional enforcement option will give States greater flexibility to assess penalties
Strengthening Use of Terminations
Terminating homes from Medicare and Medicaid is an essential last resort enforcement
tool for facilities that fail to correct problems and provide adequate care and safety to
residents. We agree with the GAO, and current policy now requires, that Medicaid payments
to terminated facilities continue for up to 30 days after a facility is terminated if and
only if the home and State Medicaid agency are making reasonable efforts to find another
nursing home for those residents. (Medicare also makes funds available but does not
explicitly require a State's effort to transfer
We will study transfer procedures in the 30 involuntary terminations that took place
last fiscal year. We will explore whether States applied oversight and payment policies
appropriately and consistently, if not why not, and whether facilities closed and
transferred residents, stayed open and paid for care of residents not transferred, were
sold to third parties, etc.
We are concerned, however, that there could be unintended consequences from the GAO's recommendation to use longer "reasonable assurance periods"in all cases before allowing homes that have been
terminated to reenter Medicare. Current guidance to State inspectors includes several
examples to assist in setting reasonable assurance periods, but there must be flexibility
in determining appropriate reasonable assurance periods. Excessive reasonable assurance
periods may not be in the best interest of the nursing home residents, particularly in
regions with limited access to care.
It is important to note that reasonable assurance periods are rarely used. More than 95
percent of nursing homes given initial notice of termination correct problems and remain
open. Last year only 30 of the more than 8300 facilities given initial notice of
termination were in fact terminated. It is also important to note that reasonable
assurance periods apply only under Medicare. The requirement was removed from the Medicaid
statute in 1987. Most nursing homes participate in both Medicare and Medicaid. Therefore,
reasonable assurance periods now can result in a facility being certified for Medicaid but
not for Medicare until a reasonable assurance period is satisfied. We are prepared to work
with Congress to restore reasonable assurance to the Medicaid program so the two programs
are consistent.
We will subject terminated facilities to extra scrutiny and stiffer sanctions for
problems if and when they are allowed to reenter Medicare and Medicaid. Current Federal
regulations allow consideration of a facility's
prior history of noncompliance. However, past problems have not been routinely reviewed
when assessing new sanctions. And previously terminated nursing homes have been able to
re-enter Medicare or Medicaid with a "clean
slate." As such, they have been treated less
aggressively than problem-prone facilities that have not been terminated, and this has
created a perverse advantage to termination that will no longer exist.
We will therefore make explicit in our instructions to States that previously
terminated facilities are automatically subject to immediate sanctions if problems recur.
States and our regional offices track termination information, and we will work to ensure
that this information is used systematically when subsequent enforcement actions are
considered. We will further consider applying this policy to previously terminated homes
that re-enter under new ownership.
Improving the Referral Process
The GAO report cites appalling cases which document our concern that States have not
been consistently referring cases for sanction, even when violations resulted in a
resident's death. We are therefore requiring
States to refer all cases that result in harm to residents. We also now will require
States to report to us when they do not recommend sanctions in cases where regulations
have been violated and a nursing home resident died.
Current guidelines do authorize referral and imposition of fines for egregious
violations, such as those that contribute to a resident's
death, even if the problem has been corrected. Also, as mentioned above, we last week
published a regulation making nursing homes subject to additional penalties or fines for
each specific incident, such as an instance of abuse or neglect, that contributes to a
resident's death. Under this new regulation,
even if the nursing home corrects the violation quickly, it would still face fines when a
resident suffers harm due to a serious violation.
Improving Management Information Systems
We are already undertaking a major redesign of our data systems that will allow us to
integrate results of complaint investigations, track the status and history of
deficiencies, and monitor enforcement actions adequately. We will release software this
summer that will make it easier to track the status and history of deficiencies at the
State level. This software will also automate the current requirement for State collection
of ownership information. We will make further improvements as soon as our Year 2000
computer work allows.
It is important to note that many States investigate complaints for regulations that
exceed Federal requirements and we have no authority to require them to report these data.
As we redesign our management information system we will work to make sure that these data
are fully integrated with other information on facility performance.
The HHS Inspector General has produced six reports on nursing home enforcement issues
which echo our own concerns and underscore the need for our ongoing efforts to help States
improve enforcement efforts. Many of the Inspector General's recommendations are already incorporated into the
nursing home initiative announced by the President in July 1998, including:
We have research underway that will help us respond to the Inspector General
recommendation for staffing standards for registered nurses and certified nurse Assistants
in nursing homes. Last September we awarded a contract to Abt Associates to assist us in a
comprehensive study of nursing home staffing, with results due back to us this fall.
We strongly support the Administration on Aging's
Ombudsman Program, which is absolutely critical in maintaining quality of care in nursing
homes. Ombudsmen make regular visits to nursing homes, act as advocates for residents, and
help in enforcing nursing home standards and ensuring that all nursing home residents are
treated with dignity and compassion. We agree with the Inspector General that this program
should have more visibility, including criteria for frequency and length of regular visits
to facilities. It also needs guidelines for complaint response and resolution times,
further refinements to its data reporting system, and more volunteers.
Though progress has been made in improving the quality of care in nursing homes, we
need to continually build upon it. To this end, HCFA is willing to work with the
Administration on Aging to increase their effectiveness and to facilitate communications
between the Administration on Aging and State survey agencies to better serve nursing home
We have made solid progress since the President announced our nursing home enforcement
initiative last July. We have taken several steps to improve inspections by States, who
have the primary responsibility for conducting on-site inspections and recommending
sanctions for care and safety violations. These steps will help ensure faster sanctions
when problems are found, increase oversight for the worst offenders in each State, and
enhance the quality of care by targeting preventable problems.
We have expanded the definition of facilities subject to immediate enforcement action
without an opportunity to correct problems before sanctions are imposed. New guidance to
States will make clear that a facility should automatically get such "grace periods"
only if violations do not cause actual harm to residents and if the facility does not have
a history of recurring problems.
We have identified facilities with the worst compliance records in each State, and each
State has chosen two of these "special focus
facilities" for frequent inspection and intense
monitoring, and monthly status reports. Through closer scrutiny and immediate sanctions,
we will work to prevent "yo-yo"compliance, in which problems are fixed only
temporarily and are cited again in subsequent surveys.
This spring we will implement a wide range of initiatives to detect and prevent bed
sores, dehydration, and malnutrition. We are working with outside experts to develop a
systematic, data driven process to identify problems and provide focus for in-depth
on-site assessments. We will take interim steps this year, and expect to complete the new
system by the end of 2000. We are also working with the American Dietetic Association,
clinicians, consumers and nursing homes to share best practices for preventing these
problems. And we will begin a national campaign to educate consumers and nursing home
staff about the risks of malnutrition and dehydration and nursing home residents' rights to quality care this year.
We will this summer implement a new survey protocol we developed with a national abuse
and neglect forum for evaluating nursing homes'
abuse and neglect prevention processes. We will launch a national consumer education
campaign on preventing and detecting abuse this year.
We will provide training and guidance to States this Spring on enforcement, use of
quality indicators in surveys, medication review during surveys, and prevention of
pressures sores, dehydration, weight loss, and abuse.
We also have:
We have taken additional steps to help consumers choose facilities, help facilities
improve care, and help our law enforcement partners prosecute the most egregious cases. We
The Clinton Administration's fiscal year 2000
budget includes proposals to:
The cost of background checks and querying the national registry will be financed
through user fees. The Administration will put forward additional proposals as needed for
additional legislative authority to further improve nursing home quality and safety.
We are grateful that Congress provided us with a total fiscal 1999 survey and
certification budget of $171 million for our increased nursing home enforcement efforts,
including $4 million earmarked for the new initiative. We thank you, Mr. Chairman, for
your continued support in meeting the resource needs required by our increased oversight
efforts. We are requesting an additional $60.1 million for fiscal year 2000 to enable us
and other HHS components to fully implement all provisions of the Nursing Home Initiative.
This includes $35 million for HCFA to strengthen State inspection and enforcement efforts,
$15.6 million in mandatory Medicaid money to supplement State inspection and enforcement
efforts, and $9.5 million to ensure adequate resources for timely judicial hearings and
court litigation.
We have made substantial progress in improving protections for vulnerable nursing home
residents. We are doing a better job of making sure nursing homes provide adequate care
and protection. We greatly appreciate the evaluation and advice of the GAO, the HHS
Inspector General, and this Committee in these efforts. Clearly there is much more that we
need to do. The new GAO and HHS Inspector General reports and this hearing will help us
focus on specific areas that we must address. We are committed to continuing our progress
and doing everything we can to ensure that nursing homes comply with care and safety
rules. We look forward to continuing to work with you, the GAO, the HHS Inspector General,
residents, their families, advocates, and providers as we proceed. And I am happy to
answer your questions.


text:
Given that we're almost to the warmer temperature time of year, I thought you might enjoy this unique DIY project. It is a cover for an air conditioning unit, with a special twist: chalkboard! Walter from Decor Hacks designed this piece because his air conditioning unit was an ugly eyesore when not in use, and he wanted to hide it (but also make it functional). Want to see how it was done? Click through the jump to get the link!
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Follow Amy at Mod Podge Rocks, or on Facebook and Twitter for updates!
Also find Babble on Pinterest
More on The New Home Ec:
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More than a dozen officers were searching Friday night for a driver who caused two accidents in a stolen vehicle before abandoning the car for a bicycle.
Dispatchers said the incident began about 8:40 p.m. when a woman spotted her stolen vehicle speeding past near Rooster Rock on Interstate 84. Officers from Troutdale, Gresham, Multnomah County, Portland and Fairview gave chase, without success.
The suspected car thief is being blamed for a pair of collisions.
The latest report said the man dashed from the car and hopped onto a bicycle near Northeast 207th Avenue and Halsey Street.
-- Kimberly A.C. Wilson


text:
The LSU AgCenter is hosting St. Bernard Dock Day on Wednesday (April 2) to teach fishers direct marketing and ecotourism strategies. The event is scheduled to be held in eastern St. Bernard Parish at the Los Isleños Heritage & Cultural Society Museum, 1345 Bayou Rd., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Last March, ecotourism and marketing was discussed at the Stella Plantation in Plaquemines Parish, with Louisiana fishers, farmers and landowners hearing how they could use the resources and environmental know-how they already have to bring in extra money though ecotourism. It showcased the Stella Plantation as an example of a successful ecotourism model.
The idea in part is that fishers and others, who often struggle to survive in industries easily besieged by environmental disasters and imports that drive down prices, could attract city folk from metro New Orleans and across the nation by offering them a taste of what it's like to live off the land and water.
At last year's event in Plaquemines, LSU AgCenter fisheries agent for St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Twyla Herrington, explained that 38 percent of Americans who are 16 and older participated in outdoor activities in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million people from 2006, with 11 percent of that increase in recreational fishing.
Since 2006, outdoor participation in Louisiana has jumped 40 percent, the second highest increase in the nation. Alaska had the highest increase in that period, jumping 47 percent, according to a 2011 U.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Service study.
"Ecotourism fishing is more than just catching the fish -- it is the experience, it is the culture," Herrington said. "It is like Mardi Gras. People don't just go to catch that best throws, it's the experience they come for.
"And for you all, it's not reinventing the wheel, it's working with what you've already got."
Daryl Jones, the coordinator of the Natural Resource Enterprises Program at Mississippi State University, weighed in last year on the potential of natural resources saying 90 million people in the United States participate in outdoor activities, spending $145 billion a year in the process, with fishing representing about $42 billion, hunting bringing in $34 billion and "wildlife watching" accounting for about $55 billion -- "simply showing people things that we see every day."
In Louisiana, he said, fishing brings in more than $1 billion a year, hunting about $525 million and wildlife watching nets about $310 million annually.
Topics at the St. Bernard dock day will include adding value to seafood by focusing packaging and quality, insurance and legal considerations, and discussions of various financing opportunities.
Presenters also are expected to provide information on Delcambre Direct and the state seafood certification program.
Delcambre Direct has a website that lets consumers know when fishers are coming into port and what they are carrying, even sending emails when fishers dock. In a way, it's a fishers' version of Facebook that features profiles of local fishers listed by the species they catch. Because of its success, other area programs have started, including SouthShore Direct.
Donovan Burke, with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Louisiana Wild Seafood Certified Program, said earlier this month at the Louisiana Fisheries Summit in Houma that the state certification program "helps us define the Louisiana product so it is a premium product, so people will demand Louisiana product instead of just any low-end product."
"Wild-caught Louisiana is being compared to all those lower-priced imported and farm raised seafood," Burke said. "It's all being thrown into the same pool."
Earlier this month, Wildlife and Fisheries launched a new website for that certification program to help streamline its application. The state certification program was approved by the state Legislature in 2010.
Those who qualify for the program can use the Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood label on their packages. The idea is that the voluntary program will help encourage better handling practices and thus even higher-quality seafood in the industry.
Anyone with interest in any of the St. Bernard dock day topics is invited to attend. For additional information on the event, contact Twyla Herrington at firstname.lastname@example.com or 504.858.9826.
The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, Nunez Community College, the St. Bernard Tourism Commission, and the state Wildlife & Fisheries Department also are helping to sponsor the event.


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Virtual Entities
#1 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 13591
Posted 10 January 2011 - 04:10 AM
I build a micro-threading FSM framework including time-slicing for each individual entity, a job queue for A* requests,freezing state for idle times etc., all for better load balancing, still it is not enough. The costs for planning and movement (including physics) for a single entity are just too high, I think I need to come up with some other solution other then optimizing AI/physics code.
The basic idea is to have a limited pool of active entities which will be spawned on-the-fly in areas of activity. If you would only control the player this would be quite easy, but you although control your own entities (up to 30). On the other hand this game is more like a simulation. Spawning all entities on-the-fly would sacrify the simulation part for none player controlled entities, thought I could live with this decision.
So far I got the following ideas:
I) Just let up to 40 entities roam the level and try to "attract" them to the player and player controlled entities.
II) Divide the level into section and give each section a activity state. Inactive section will release all entity resources whereas active sections will spawn entities on-the-fly. Much like L4D. The player will lead to an higher actvity state whereas player controlled entities will lead to lower activity states.
III) Serialize/Deserialize entities on-the-fly. The original virtual entity population will exists, but once an entity is out of range of any "active entity" (player or player controlled entity), then it will be deserialized.
All this must be a known problem in game development, I just don't want to reinvent the wheel. Any help will be appreciated.
#2 Members - Reputation: 187
Posted 10 January 2011 - 04:32 AM
This works basically as a model LOD level. You have a rough version of the AI.
This means that you do not need to smooth paths for pathfinding for example, or use a higher level graph (with a really small number of nodes) on that you compute the paths on.
This wouldn't be as fine grained as the version used if the entity is close to the player and thus pathfinding will be faster..
Don't update animations on them, etc.
You can think of examples for all the tasks that an AI entity needs to do.
When the entity becomes relevant for the player(probably based on distance/ line of sight), you switch to the "normal AI" with all the details.
#3 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 2275
Posted 10 January 2011 - 04:59 AM
#4 Members - Reputation: 187
Posted 10 January 2011 - 06:05 AM
What about using a hierarchical approach? You may first work on groups of entities (making higher level decisions) and then on single entities. You may then always update groups, but only the individuals in active areas.
Or you can just combine the two methods(simpler pathfinding, etc.) + just doing this for groups of units if there are groups of units in your game.
It really depends on how your AI is currently structured.
#5 Members - Reputation: 108
Posted 10 January 2011 - 04:05 PM
Also sharing expensive computations between the monsters will help. Group monsters who are close to each other and compute only once a path or other low level computation like predicting where the enemy will be, and then share the knowledge of that computation between all monsters.
Then each individual monster can decide to use the path or make any high level decisions based on the low level results.
#6 Moderators - Reputation: 3501
Posted 10 January 2011 - 08:43 PM
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Co-founder of the AI Game Programmers Guild
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"
#7 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 13591
Posted 11 January 2011 - 01:44 AM
My problem is tightly coupled to the physics engine. My entities move in a 3d environment controlled by a physics engine. Improving only the AI would shift the bottleneck to the physics engine.
When dealing with huge numbers of entities, what can work is a LOD level for the distant AI.
This works basically as a model LOD level. You have a rough version of the AI.
This sounds more feasable for my requirements.
What about using a hierarchical approach? You may first work on groups of entities (making higher level decisions) and then on single entities. You may then always update groups, but only the individuals in active areas.
Pathfinding isn't the problem (atleast yet :-) ). Sensory scanning of the surrounding and a scripted behaviour tree are quite expensive, but incredible flexible. I think currently the behaviour tree written in lua is my bottleneck. Althought I could optimize it, I want to solve the
Also sharing expensive computations between the monsters will help. Group monsters who are close to each other and compute only once a path or other low level computation like predicting where the enemy will be, and then share the knowledge of that computation between all monsters.
Then each individual monster can decide to use the path or make any high level decisions based on the low level results.
problem on an higher level like L4D.
Micro-threading and timeslicing already solves this problem. My entities have a "heartbeat" which force an update interval between 100 and 2000 ms. The heartbeat increases when the entity gets in contact with other entities (feels threatened or has been attacked) and decreases when nothing special happens.
Also remember, you don't have to do high-level AI processing every frame. For many decisions, you can get away with doing things once or twice a second.
Still the entity exists and moves through the world (physics engine + steering behaviour), which can't be optimize in a similar way.
Sofar I think that performance improvement of the AI (LOD etc.) will leave me with a bigger physics performance problem. Currently my only hope to solve this seems to remove the entities from the (physics) world simluation to get
rid of AI and physics load.
First idea(LOD):
1. entity spawns in world with full sensory abilities, behaviour tree and physics representation. 2. entity leaves area of focus defined by the player, the entity will loss its physics representation and most of its sensory abilities, a new more restricted behaviour tree will be taken (low detail level). 3. entity interacts on a meta-level, interaction with other meta-level entities is possible but restricted. 4. entity recover its sensory abilites, behaviourtree and physics representation once it enters the focus area again (will be respawned at a plausible spot)
Second idea(hierachy):
1. ai controlls areas of the world more on a strategy level (N units of X dwell in area Y etc.) 2. ai makes decision on strategy level 3. once an area gained the focus, entities are spawned on-the-fly according to the area profile. 4. entities are just representation of the strategy profile, they act according to it and will give some feedback.
#8 Members - Reputation: 162
Posted 26 January 2011 - 06:48 PM
I was thinking about your 'heartbeat' idea, what exactly does the heartbeat control? Amount of time sliced to the entity? or does it indicate the next scheduled slice of time for it?
#9 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 13591
Posted 27 January 2011 - 12:51 AM
The spawning on-the-fly thing has been implemented and works quite fine, thought it will need more testing and tweaking.
Ashaman, how is it coming?
I was thinking about your 'heartbeat' idea, what exactly does the heartbeat control? Amount of time sliced to the entity? or does it indicate the next scheduled slice of time for it?
The 'hearbeat' controls the frequency of calling a entity update method which handles the AI part of the entity (the movement part will be updated always every frame). The heartbeat varies between 100ms and 2000ms. That means that a passive entity will be only updated every 2 seconds.
This could lead to delayed reactions but on the other hand delayed reaction of a surprised creature feels rights. The heartbeat is controlled by sensory and action events. When a entity enters combat the heartbeat will be very high, when an entity saw a threat or some interesting item the heartbeat will slowly increase. When an entity does not encounter any interesting stuff and is not in combat, it will slowly decrease up to an 2000ms interval.
PS: I use a deadline first scheduling algorithm for heatbeat managing.
#10 Moderators - Reputation: 21210
Posted 03 February 2011 - 06:10 PM
It seems to me like a simplification of the physics side would open you up to a lot of heuristic improvements on the AI side, and vice versa; I'd start with making the physics as simple as possible in the case where the player isn't actively observing anything, and ramping it up to full detail when a player-controlled entity is nearby. This is really just the LOD suggestion from earlier, except applied to your entire game simulation rather than just the AI side.
Of course, more details on the nature of your simulation would be incredibly helpful.
For comparison, X3: Terran Conflict simulates several thousand entities actively across the game universe in realtime, on a commodity PC.
[Work - ArenaNet] [Epoch Language] [Scribblings]
#11 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 13591
Posted 09 February 2011 - 04:14 AM
"..painfully low.."
Your number of active entities sounds painfully low... what exactly is the physics/steering stuff doing? What is your hardware target?
Well, I'm using bullet as physics engine, have a terrain-heightmap collision handler and several hundred static collision objects (cave models) which consist of low-res model (tri-soup, 100-300 tris per model). Each entity will do collision detection only vs a small terrainmap part and only vs 1-3 of the more complex collision objects (cave models), thought the collision detection will atleast always have to handle one of the cave models, because the entity is inside its AABB. Each entity consists only of a sphere or capsule and is steered by forces in combination with one ray-cast test.
Entity vs entity collision is turned off if not one of the colliding objects is the player. For steering behaviour the closest X objects are detected and cached over several frames.
AI is based on a behaviour tree written in lua. The behaviour tree has an update frequency of 0.5 to 5 hz.
My target hardware is 2-4 year old PCs, so powerful enough.
A space game has extremly good collision detection conditions. Objects are seldom in frequently contact to other objects, whereas my game each entity has to check atleast vs terrain and one cave model. I think, that the cave models are the most expensive collision tests.
For comparison, X3: Terran Conflict simulates several thousand entities actively across the game universe in realtime, on a commodity PC.
#12 Moderators - Reputation: 21210
Posted 09 February 2011 - 07:17 AM
That's the entire point of the LOD recommendation: don't do math you don't have to do, and you save a ton of CPU time. Simplify the navigation of entities using, say, navigation meshes or waypoint graphs, and you'll get a corresponding boost in performance.
[Work - ArenaNet] [Epoch Language] [Scribblings]
#13 Crossbones+ - Reputation: 13591
Posted 11 February 2011 - 12:39 AM
That is what I've done:
The entire map is devided into section. Each section contains information about creatures and "spawn-rate". Depending on these attributes creatures start spawning when the player is close to the according section. Entity distribution and amount is managed and limited. Addionally I now added a light-phyiscs simulation which disables collsision detection and external forces (gravity) and moves the entity along a waypoint graph. Furthermore the more expensive steering behaviours (which needs to scan the surrounding) are disabled in this mode too. This mode will be active for entities outside the players visible view distance.
I don't believe that this will enable the simulation of the whole level (several hundred entities), but it is very flexible, scaleable and the active entity limit is relaxed. The best thing is, that it enables new features like entities summoning new entities which lead often to some nasty issues in rogue-like games.
#14 Members - Reputation: 1656
Posted 13 February 2011 - 01:54 AM
that downgrades the entities AI processing when out of the players view. This can be done by
increasing the granularity size of the decision points and actions taken.
When out of view, why do pathfinding when you can simply jump to the target point (after a proper delay)
or along a simplified sequence of waypoints (often from the 'coarse' pathfinder).
It all depends if the simulation needs to be extremely accurate always or if generalized results/interactions
are good enough. If not, then 'out of sight' interactions can be generalized/abstracted to eliminate all the fine
level interactions the AI would have to calculate. The generalization might go as far as simply carrying out the
entities expected interactions with little or no positionality change on the world (except that a position is
maintained to check for reactivation when the player nears.
Some entities may simply be 'props' used for ambience which may just be a probablistic for an area
and be spawned onto the edge of the players view (radius) and then move about (but with full ability to
interact) and then disappear as the move out of the players view. When far enough from the player
(see in a distance) such 'props' might follow a routine script of actions that actually takes very little AI.
This could be daily schedules that can be calculated ahead of time and resused for routine activity
(including saved paths/routes where finesse/realisticness would not be seen thus need not have CPU
wasted on it).
Some parts of the simulation deal with groups of objects working/interacting cooperatively and these can be
abstracted to remove indivuduals interactions and replaced by simplified results applied to the world.
The hardest aspect can be when the player moves and the 'full detail' window around him causes the lower
LOD entities to have to transition back up to full detail (prefereably a little time before the player can actually
see/interact with them). The coarse granularity would likely leave them in 'safe' positions which might have
to be randomized some to make look more realistic (both position and where they are in the fine level
sequences of actions that make up their activities). When several entities 'expand' in close vicinity they
might need adjustments to be properly/naturally placed and in the middle of their expected activities.
Often more complex AIs use planners that have continuous cached states which might quickly have to rebuilt
for their current context (the fine detal past having been discarded when the entity shifted to low LOD
AI) You might have to reactivate to fine detail earlier to allow the reconstitution and the AI orienting itself
to the current situation.
Boundry Endcases would be:
Group entities (if you have them) where half are inside the player window and the rest outside -- when
would the transition to coarse LOD happen... (probably once all of them are outside or maybe split
into two groups - one full detal the other abstract).
Entities in High/fine detail/LOD may have to interact high detail with other entities also running at high level
to simulate their actions correctly (where players may see them). If entities past the boundry are forced to interact
in full detail (with those inside ) then they themselves being in high/full detail might interact with other adjacent entities
even further out -- cascading outward and likely forcing too many entities to run too much AI processing. Thus it may
take some clever logic to have the entities at the boundry interact at high level appropriately with those within the
players view and abstractly outside simultaneously.
Visually players may see LARGE entities from a long distance (depending how your graphic scheme works) and these
may have to be run at high/fine detail and be seen interacting with unseen smaller entities. DO you have a bubble of
high level around those objects....
When player has remote viewing or magnification (telescope) whatever is viewed would need to be simulated in
high/fine detail -- again possibly needing a bubble of high level AI simulation in that vicinity -- and if they can rapidly
swing their view you might have a serious problem reconstituting high level detail that fast .
Looking at such designs I even forsee a 'micro' view of a very fine level of detail immediately in the players reach
where very close interactions with small objects (or objects manipulated by entities adjacent to the player would
be done). Just another case of objects that disappear with distance and are filled in when the player is near (very near
in the micro detail case). These may not be 'entities' themselves but the nearby entities may manipulate them and interact
with the player with them when so close, and the behavior of the entities to use these objects would change as you
(the player) got far enough away (and interactions of that type cease) . The same LOD mechanism would be used to
control AI for the simulation.
#15 Moderators - Reputation: 3501
Posted 13 February 2011 - 08:35 AM
Professional consultant on game AI, mathematical modeling, simulation modeling
Co-advisor of the GDC AI Summit
Co-founder of the AI Game Programmers Guild
Author of the book, Behavioral Mathematics for Game AI
IA News - What's happening at IA | IA on AI - AI news and notes | Post-Play'em - Observations on AI of games I play
"Reducing the world to mathematical equations!"


text:
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Hillsborough River Tower
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Parking ratio: 4:1,000
Min/Max Rent Range: To be determined
Typical Floor Square Footage: 25,000
Available Square Feet: 950,810
Minimum Square Feet Available: 0
Total Square Feet: 1,055,895
Mr. John N. LaRocca
Sr. Vice President
Hillsborough River Realty Corporation
Updated 12/13/2013
Copyright 2016, Tampa Downtown Partnership. Website Developed By Bayshore Solutions


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There was a thrilling end to the 2011 Grand Slam Final Masters, with a blitz tie-break needed to decide the winner.
Magnus Carlsen and Vassily Ivanchuk drew their final round games against Hikaru Nakamura and Lev Aronian respectively to both finish on 15 points.
So blitz tie-breaks were needed and it was Magnus Carlsen who emerged the winner 1½-½ to deny Ivanchuk the victory that had looked all but inevitable a few rounds ago.
In the last regular time-control game to finish, Vishy Anand salvaged some dignity by beating Vallejo Pons to avoid last place.
The final standings:
The 2011 Grand Slam Masters Champion, Magnus Carlsen (picture from the official website)
The blitz playoff games:
Nice !
I always felt that Carlsen was right about this. As the level of chess these days evolved into an increasing number of "super grandmasters", the whole 2 year cycle of awaiting the qualification process of a challenger appeared unfair and outdated. It takes too long and appears too demanding to fight for a single, "challenger' position. Again, while the challenger has to prepare for multiple opponents, fight them all, beat them all, the champion can just sit back and wait and prepare only against a single opposing challenger. The effort of ranking world number one and performing consistently against highest level of opponents months after months, tournaments after tournaments amounts to nothing this way. Most sports moved toward rewarding consistency from penalty kicks and last minute blitz and sudden death matches where luck has significant impact. Chess should follow this trend to bring being the world number one and the world championship title as close as possible to reflect true and genuine achievement.
And yes, that trophy is horrendous...
go magnus!! i love u
Carlsen says to the biggest Norwegian newspaper that he probably will play the next WC-cycle:
Remind me, why did Carlsen opt out of the Candidates match this year? Wasn't following closely when it happened.
Very good that youngster Magnus won the World Championship
Well done Carlsen a world champion in the making. Anand looks like he struggled to stay off the bottom and I don't even see the World Championship challenger in the event, what's going on FIDE.
Live long Carlsen
very entertaining! congratulations magnus! i know vassily can do better next time
yeah i don't like the trophy either... it looks like it came from the twighlight zone
@ StakeOut - it looks like one hand holding another hand to me. Not sure why or what that is supposed to represent!
what the feck is that brown blob on top of the trophy?!
"Ivanchuk was winning in his match against Magnus inspite of giving up his Queen in the reguar time control match"
I think not.
What a comeback from Magnus.
It is really not an argument about who is better, but who is putting in the maximum effort. Let us see what the Tal Memorial will look like. It was still unfortunate for Ivanchuk to have to deal win a gun in his face, I am sure it is not easy to get over that.
@balar, so you think making moves on time is not good play? Maybe if Magnus took his sweet time to make moves he would easily out perform Ivanchuk. If Ivanchuk can't make a good move in the given time then he shouldn't be playing, he lost fair and square.
The pretenders at the throne of world champion and Anand the champion too are awesome player ...
Anand is the top player in the world, and will be until someone takes his title.
Instead of criticising Anand or defending his performance, why dont chess.com directly get Anands feedback for the chess lovers and post it for us
I belong to his native place and have played Simul against him , he is simply the master of the 64 and the most complete natural player
Magnus is no doubt a strong player, but remember Ivanchuk was winning in his match against Magnus inspite of giving up his Queen in the reguar time control match. He simply played inaccurately due to time pressure. so it is really the opponents in accuracy rather than Magnus' good play
Let us look forward to the torunament next monnth in Moscow wiith the top cream of players in action
DanielRensch által - 28 óra ezelőtt
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Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Lamoriello knows of "no reason" why Kovalchuk won't return to Devils after CBA is ratified
Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello repeated today that he has "no reason" to believe that left wing Ilya Kovalchuk won't return to the team from the Kontinental Hockey League when the NHL owners' lockout is officially over.
After saying Monday he had not spoken to Kovalchuk since the NHL reached a tentative agreement with the NHLPA Sunday morning to end the lockout, Lamoriello would not discuss today whether he has spoken to Kovalchuk or his agent, Jay Grossman.
I still haven't heard back from Grossman on the phone and email messages I left for him today. Grossman said Monday that he was "working on" arrangements for both Kovalchuk and Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov, who played for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL during the lockout, to return to North America.
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod announced Monday that Volchenkov left the team to return to the NHL. SKA St. Petersburg has made no announcement so far pertaining to Kovalchuk.
Speculation that Kovalchuk might choose to stay in Russia to play in the KHL even after the tentative agreement to end the lockout is ratified took on added life today when Kovalchuk played in SKA St. Petersburg's 3-1 loss to Ak Bars Kazan. Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis) and Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus) both have already left SKA St. Petersberg, however, to return to their NHL teams.
According to Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo and TSN, Kovalchuk told R-Sport in Russia that he is just waiting for the official announcement of the new CBA and is playing in the KHL now to "stay in shape."
The players are expected to complete their ratification Saturday and, assuming that happens, NHL training camps will open on Sunday. The 48-game regular season will open on Saturday, Jan. 19.
Lamoriello said he had no problem with Kovalchuk playing today and remaining with SKA St. Petersburg to stay in shape until camp opens. He compared it with the Devils keeping players with Albany until the NHL camps opens.
Still, Slava Malamud of the Russian sports daily Sport Express (also a correspondent for NHL.com) posted quotes from Kovalchuk on Twitter that were less definitive.
Malamud posted on Twitter that Kovalchuk said after today's game, "Not in a hurry to get to America… Time will tell (if I stay in the KHL). Nothing is out of the question."
According to Malamud, Kovalchuk also told Sport Express, "(Pavel) Datsyuk hasn't left (CSKA Moscow), either... If (KHL president Alexander) Medvedev says it's OK, we'll play in the All-Star Game."
(Datsyuk might not have left Russia yet, but he didn't play in CSKA Moscow's game today against Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.)
The KHL's All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
All of this talk is probably more about when Kovalchuk will return to New Jersey and not if. As I mentioned in the previous post, the NHL and the KHL have a transfer agreement that players with NHL contracts cannot play in the KHL. This agreement, of course, didn't pertain to when the players were locked out by the NHL, but once the lockout is officially over, they would be contractually obligated to return to their NHL teams.
And as I first reported earlier, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said via email, "The KHL has confirmed it will honor its agreement with us."
Daly also said that if a player under contract in the NHL somehow remained in the KHL after the lockout is over, his NHL contract "could be" voided.
In addition to having $83,439,024 over 13 seasons left on his contract, including a prorated $6,439,024 for a 48-game 2012-13 season, Kovalchuk has a multi-million dollar home he is building in Alpine that it is unlikely he'd leave behind.
Lamoriello said today he still has not seen the schedule. With Prudential Center booked from Jan. 17 to Jan. 21 for Disney on Ice, Lamoriello knows the Devils will open the season on the road, but says he doesn't know more than that. He hopes to know more after Wednesday's Board of Governors' meeting in Manhattan to approve the new CBA.
Of announcing the schedule, Daly said, ""Not tomorrow. Sometime at the end of the week or over the weekend."
Lamoriello said also hasn't made any decisions yet on whether any tryouts or any of the team's junior prospects will be invited to training camp.
TSN's Bob McKenzie reported the breakdown of the 48-game schedule, which will be all in-conference play. Each team will play four games apiece against two of its divisional opponents (eight), five games each against the other two teams in its division (10), and three games apiece against the other 10 teams in its conference (30).


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In a workout similar to his final drill before his victory in the Louisiana Derby, Friesan Fire
blazed five furlongs in 57 4-5 seconds Mondayh at Churchill Downs in prepartion for the
Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Jockey Gabrial Saez was riding Friesan Fire for trainer
Larry Jones.
"It's a good sign,'' Jones said. "It shows he's getting over the track like we wanted him to.''
In other Derby news, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said that Florida Derby winner Quality Road
will miss the Kentucky Derby because of a hoof problem. Jerkens had been hoping to work
Quality Road on Monday at Belmont Park but had to cancel the workout because Quality
Road''s right front hoof, which has a crack, was too sensitive.


text: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Piano and organ duet with optional handbellsArranged by Joel Raney. Hymntune, Call To Worship, Celebration, Gathering, General Worship, Praise, Sacred. Conductor's Score. Published by Hope Publishing Company (HP.C5346CS). Usually leaves our warehouse: Within 4 to 6 business days More info Add to Cart { "catalogRefId":"5904379", "productId":"prod5904379", "quantity":"1" } 2 Reviews


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Have you noticed that several fueling stations have changed their brands? Both the old Clark station at Manhattan and Center and Mike's Mini Mart on Pearl Road are now Valero distributors.
Which reminds me, let's all say a little prayer for Mini Mart owner and Brunswick Hills Trustee Mike Esber, who is recovering from surgery and will be undergoing chemotherapy for awhile. Saw him last week and he's upbeat about it, and I love that fighting spirit!
PROUD: Emily Brown had a great post on Facebook recently. She congratulated her parents, who you may just recognize. Her parents are Carol and Will Klingel who were named Medina County SPCA Volunteers of the Year 2013. She added, "Very much deserved, you are good and wonderful people. So very proud of you! The world is a better place because of you both!" Also noticed on Carol's page that there may be a Brunswick High Art Club reunion in the making. Wouldn't that be fun?
SAVE UP: There's Quarter Madness coming from 4-9 p.m. May 18 to benefit Faith in Action Teens at Saint Ambrose Parish, 929 Pearl Road. Bring your rolls of quarters to what is described as a night where "raffles meet auctions" begins! The $5 admission includes one bidder paddle. Additional bidding paddles available for $1. Free babysitting available. For more information, contact Gina Hackett at email@example.com or 216-272-9298.
BIG AWARDS: Nearly 2,000 local volunteers of the Boy Scouts of America awarded four of their own with the District Award of Merit for giving noteworthy service to youth. Among the four Medina County residents honored April 17 was Michelle Hennis of Brunswick. Hennis has served as treasurer for Cub Pack 3407 and Troop 407 for 13 years. She has been on staff at Cub Scout Day Camp bringing outdoor fun to Cub Scouts for 12 years and was Day Camp Director for five years. Congratulations.
BENEFIT CORVETTE SHOW: Oooh! Brunswick Relay For Life team CANCERvive and the Medina Corvette Club will host a benefit Corvette Show June 1 at Wingz Sports Bar & Grill, 1055 Pearl Road, Brunswick. This fabulous event will be held rain or shine! Registration is from 9:30-11 a.m.; drivers meeting at 11:15 a.m.; stop cleaning/detailing at 11:30 a.m.; swards at 3:30 p.m. There will be 20 awards in this sanctioned event. Door prizes are sponsored by: Wingz Sports Bar & Grill, Countryside Animal Hospital, Giant Eagle, DonutLand, Summit Racing, Corvette Mystic, O'Reilly Auto Parts (Brunswick), and B&B Trophy. If you have any questions, email email@example.com.
ROTARY GUESTS: Brunswick Rotary welcomed Karina and Dick Cuttle from Australia to a recent meeting. Now those are visitors from about as far away as you can get.
CHALK IT UP: Don't forget the annual Eco-Arts Chalk Festival is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 11 at the Susan Hambley Nature Center. Prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories: best elementary, best middle school, best high school, best adult, and best group entries. Pat Catan's Craft Centers sponsors this free community event with chalk and prizes. Bring along your imaginations to create chalk drawing masterpieces. Online registration is encouraged at www.medinacountyparks.com.
LOOK AROUND: To promote National Travel & Tourism Week, the Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau is encouraging residents and visitors to "See What's In Your Own Backyard." National Travel & Tourism Week began May 4 and concludes on May 12. The Bureau's staff would like everyone to venture out and enjoy all the fun things to see and do. There are many wonderful and unique restaurants throughout the County along with shopping, parks, farms and garden centers.
To start your adventure, stop in at the Bureau's office at 32 Public Square in Medina for information including a Visitors Guide, Events Guide and Drive-It-Yourself Tours. During Tourism Week, the Drive-It-Yourself Tours brochure is only available for pick-up at the Bureau's office. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday during these days.
PLAY: If you haven't already done so, it's time to sign up for the Ambrose Warriors golf outing to help the family of Lynn Ambrose with expenses related to her fight against cancer. The outing will begin at 12:30 p.m. May 19 at Deer Pass Golf Course and it's a four-person scramble. Even if you don't play golf, there are other activities and a steak dinner, silent auction and awards at 7:30 p.m. It's $65 per golfer if you pay now ($75 after May 11). To register, call Chadly Gibson at 216-469-9241. Deer Pass is at 5886 Greenwich Road, Seville.
PLEASE HELP: Save Ohio Strays needs your help to save pets who face death without someone coming to the rescue. Avalon RV Center at 1604 Medina Road is holding a special SOS event May 13-18. Volunteers will be available for a meet and greet with their pets for adoption from noon to 3 p.m. May 13 and 17 as well as 4-8 p.m. May 13 and 16 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18. During this sales event, Avalon will donate 10 percent of all parts and accessories sold; $200 for every travel trailer sold; $300 for every 5th Wheel sold and $500 for every motor home sold. So stop by – maybe you'll find just the right dog or kitty for your family.
GOOD TIMES: I had a great time spending a couple hours with old friend Michael Schneider last week. Hard to believe he's 87 considering you can see him around the German American Village almost every day laboring away at keeping things looking great. And it's hard to believe we've known the Schneiders more than 40 years!
Contact Boyer at email@example.com.


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As riders and online shoppers, we know it can be tough to buy a new bridle or pair of boots without trying them on. That's why we moved the fitting room to your living room (or barn)! From breeches to blankets, if you or your horse can try it on, you can return it, free! Just use the pre-paid return label included in your order within 60 days from the purchase date. And of course, please make sure the item is in like-new condition with original packaging (we said 'fitting room', not 'war room'!).
We know that at some events during summer it can get really warm in show clothes waiting for your event to begin. That is why Heritage Gloves have developed this unique show glove for those hot days. The Pro-Flow Summer Show glove is the first of its kind to be fully ventilated with a mesh top and air holes on the palm side of the glove. This glove is made with the best grade of soft Cabretta sheepskin leather.
SmartPak customers are some of the most conscientious animal owners around. We encourage you to share your experience with the products we sell to help fellow customers to make informed choices for their animals. We do not edit these reviews in any way - they are direct customer-to-customer communication. We do monitor reviews for positive and negative feedback, and use this feedback to improve our selection as well as sharing feedback with product manufacturers to help them improve their products. Please note that we recommend consulting your vet with serious health issues.


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DETROIT -- The Minnesota Twins didn't score until the sixth inning. But once they took the lead, the Detroit Tigers bounced right back.
The Twins scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning Sunday afternoon to take a 3-2 lead over the Tigers, but the Tigers rallied to tie it on an RBI double by Nick Castellanos in the bottom of the sixth inning. The game was tied at 3-3 as it headed to the seventh inning. Castellanos has knocked in two of Detroit's three runs.
-- Download the Detroit Tigers on MLive app for iPhone and Android.
-- Like MLive's Detroit Tigers Facebook page.


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Browse Collection
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Anonymous, English (18th century)
Bronze mould
, c. 1750
bronze; intaglio
41.7 mm diameter 5 mm thickness
A bronze mould used in the manufacture of a repoussé watch case. The design incorporates a depiction of Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance with a lyre and with putti playing other musical instruments. Around the outside are scrolls and volutes. Literature: Antiquarian Horology, Vol IX (March 1975, p.231. Richard.Edgcumbe, The Art of the Gold Chaser in Eighteenth-Century London, OUP, Oxford, 2001, p.11, fig,4a (right). Notes: No surviving watch is known with a case related to this mould. A second similar mould also exists in the Ashmolean Museum, see Richard Edgcumbe, op.cit, p.11 and fig.4a (left).
No record of previous provenance
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