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Random numbers have a peculiar power, even when they are only pseudo- or quasirandom
Brian Hayes
In the early 1990s Spassimir Paskov, then a graduate student at Columbia University, began analyzing an exotic financial instrument called a collateralized mortgage obligation, or CMO, issued by the investment bank Goldman Sachs. The aim was to estimate the current value of the CMO, based on the potential future cash flow from thousands of 30-year mortgages. This task wasn't just a matter of applying the standard formula for compound interest. Many home mortgages are paid off early when the home is sold or refinanced; some loans go into default; interest rates rise and fall. Thus the present value of a 30-year CMO depends on 360 uncertain and interdependent monthly cash flows. The task amounts to evaluating an integral in 360-dimensional space.
There was no hope of finding an exact solution. Paskov and his adviser, Joseph Traub, decided to try a somewhat obscure approximation technique called the quasi–Monte Carlo method. An ordinary Monte Carlo evaluation takes random samples from the set of all possible solutions. The quasi variant does a different kind of sampling—not quite random but not quite regular either. Paskov and Traub found that some of their quasi–Monte Carlo programs worked far better and faster than the traditional technique. Their discovery would allow a banker or investor to assess the value of a CMO with just a few minutes of computation, instead of several hours.
It would make a fine story if I could now report that the subsequent period of "irrational exuberance" in the financial markets—the frenzy of trading in complex derivatives, and the sad sequel of crisis, collapse, recession, unemployment—could all be traced back to a mathematical innovation in the evaluation of high-dimensional integrals. But it's just not so; there were other causes of that folly.
On the other hand, the work of Paskov and Traub did have an effect: It brought a dramatic revival of interest in quasi–Monte Carlo. Earlier theoretical results had suggested that quasi–Monte Carlo models would begin to run out of steam when the number of dimensions exceeded 10 or 20, and certainly long before it reached 360. Thus the success of the experiment was a surprise, which mathematicians have scrambled to explain. A key question is whether the same approach will work for other problems.
The whole affair highlights the curiously ambivalent role of randomness in computing. Algorithms are by nature strictly deterministic, yet many of them seem to benefit from a small admixture of randomness—an opportunity, every now and then, to make a choice by flipping a coin. In practice, however, the random numbers supplied to computer programs are almost never truly random. They are pseudorandom—artful fakes, meant to look random and pass statistical tests, but coming from a deterministic source. What's intriguing is that the phony random numbers seem to work perfectly well, at least for most tasks.
Quasirandom numbers take the charade a step further. They don't even make the effort to dress up and look random. Yet they too seem to be highly effective in many places where randomness is called for. They may even outperform their pseudorandom cousins in certain circumstances.
Here's a toy problem to help pin down the distinctions between the pseudo and quasi varieties of randomness. Suppose you want to estimate the area of an object with a complicated shape, such as a maple leaf. There's a well-known trick for solving this problem with the help of a little randomness. Put the leaf on a board of known area, then throw darts at it randomly—trying not to aim. If a total of N darts hit the board, and n of them land within the leaf, then the ratio n:N approximates the ratio of the leaf area to the board area. For convenience we can define the board area as 1, and so the estimated leaf area is simply n/N.
Tossing darts at random can be difficult and dangerous. But if you're willing to accept dots in lieu of darts, and if you let the computer take care of sprinkling them at random, the leaf-measuring experiment is easy, and it works remarkably well.
I collected a leaf from a nearby sugar maple, photographed it, and placed the green shape within a square field of 1,024×1,024 blank pixels. Then I wrote a program that tosses random dots (actually pseudorandom dots) at the digitized image. The first time I ran the program, 429 of 1,024 dots fell on the leaf, for an area estimate of 0.4189. The actual area, as defined by a count of colored pixels, is 0.4185. The random-dots approximation was somewhat better than I expected—a case of random good luck, though nothing out of the ordinary. When I repeated the experiment 1,000 times, the mean estimate of the leaf's area was 0.4183, with a standard deviation of 0.0153.
The basic idea in Monte Carlo studies is to reformulate a mathematical problem—such as calculating the area of a leaf—as a game of chance, where a player's expected winnings are the answer to the problem. In simple games, one can calculate the exact probability of every outcome, and so the expected winnings can also be determined exactly. Where such calculations are infeasible, the alternative is to go ahead and play the game, and see how it comes out. This is the strategy of a Monte Carlo simulation. The computer plays the game many times, and takes the average result as an estimate of the true expected value.
For the leaf-in-a-square problem, the expected value is the ratio of the leaf area to that of the square. Choosing N random points and counting the number of "hits" approximates the area ratio, and the approximation gets better as N increases. When N approaches infinity, the measurement becomes exact. This last point is not just an empirical observation but a promise made by a mathematical theorem, namely the law of large numbers. This is the same principle that guarantees a fair coin will come up heads half the time when the sample is large enough.
Randomness has a conspicuous role in this description of the Monte Carlo method. In particular, the appeal to the law of large numbers requires that the sample points be chosen randomly. And it's easy to see—just by looking at a picture—why random sampling works well: It scatters points everywhere. What's not so easy to see is why other kinds of sample-point arrangements would not also serve the purpose. After all, one could measure the leaf area by laying down a simple grid of points in the square and counting the hits. I tried this experiment with my leaf image, placing 1,024 points in a 32×32 grid. I got an area estimate of 0.4209—not quite as good as my lucky random run, but still within 0.6 percent of the true area.
I also tried measuring the leaf with 1,024 quasirandom sample points, whose arrangement is in some sense intermediate between total chaos and total order. (For an explanation of how the quasirandom pattern is constructed, click the image at right to see "A Recipe for Quasirandom Numbers.") The estimate from counting hits with quasirandom points was 0.4141, giving an error of 1 percent.
All three of these procedures give quite respectable results. Does that mean they are all equally powerful? No, I think it means that measuring the area of a leaf in two dimensions is an easy problem.
The task gets much harder in higher dimensions. Understanding why calls for an exercise in multidimensional thinking. Imagine a d-dimensional "cube" with edges of length 1, and a smaller cube inside it, with edge lengths along each dimension equal to 1/2. When d=1, a cube is just a line segment, and volume is equivalent to length; thus the smaller cube has half the volume of the large one. For d=2, the cube is a square, and volume is area; the small cube has volume 1/4. The case d=3 corresponds to an ordinary cube, and the volume filled by the small cube is now just 1/8. The progression continues. By the time we reach dimension d=20, the smaller cube—still with edge length 1/2 along each dimension—occupies only a millionth of the total volume. The mathematician Richard Bellman called this phenomenon "the curse of dimensionality."
If we want to measure the volume of the one-in-a-million small cube—or even just detect its presence—we need enough sampling points to get at least one sample from the small cube's interior. In other words, when we're counting hits, we need to count at least one. For a 20-dimensional grid pattern, that means we need a million points (or, more precisely, 220=1,048,576). With random sampling, the size requirement is probabilistic and hence a little fuzzy, but the number of points needed if we want to have an expectation of a single hit is again 220. The analysis for quasirandom sampling comes out the same. Indeed, if you are groping blindly for an object of volume 1/2d, it hardly matters how the search pattern is arranged; you will have to look in 2d places.
If real-world problems were as hard as this one, the situation would be bleak. There would be no hope at all of dealing with a 360-dimension integral. But we know some problems of that scale do yield to Monte Carlo techniques; a reasonable guess is that the solvable problems have some internal structure that speeds the search. Furthermore, the choice of sampling pattern does seem to make a difference, so there is a meaningful distinction to be made among all the gradations of true, pseudo, quasi and non randomness.
The concept of randomness in a set of numbers has at least three components. First, randomly chosen numbers are unpredictable: There is no fixed rule governing their selection. Second, the numbers are independent, or uncorrelated: Knowing one number will not help you guess another. Finally, random numbers are unbiased, or uniformly distributed: No matter how you slice up the space of possible values, each region can expect to get its fair share.
These concepts provide a useful key for distinguishing between truly random, pseudorandom, quasirandom and orderly sets. True random numbers have all three characteristics: They are unpredictable, uncorrelated and unbiased. Pseudorandom numbers abandon unpredictability; they are generated by a definite arithmetic rule, and if you know the rule, you can reproduce the entire sequence. But pseudorandom numbers are still uncorrelated and unbiased (at least to a good approximation).
Quasirandom numbers are both predictable and highly correlated. There's a definite rule for generating them, and the patterns they form, although not as rigid as a crystal lattice, nonetheless have a lot of regularity. The one element of randomness that quasirandom numbers preserve is the uniform or equitable distribution. They are spread out as fairly and evenly as possible.
A highly ordered set, such as a cubic lattice, preserves none of the properties of randomness. It's obvious that these points fail the tests of unpredictability and independence, but perhaps it's not so clear that they lack uniform distribution. After all, it's possible to carve up an N-point lattice into N small cubes that each contain exactly one point. But that's not enough to qualify the lattice as fairly and evenly distributed. The ideal of equal distribution demands an arrangement of N points that yields one point per region when the space is divided into any set of N identical regions. The rectilinear lattice fails this test when the regions are slices parallel to the axes.
These three aspects of randomness are important in different contexts. In the case of the other Monte Carlo—the casino in Monaco—unpredictability is everything. Cryptographic applications of randomness are similar. In both these cases, an adversary is actively trying to detect and exploit any hint of pattern.
Some kinds of computer simulations are very sensitive to correlations between successive random numbers, so independence is important. For the volume estimations under discussion here, however, uniformity of distribution is what matters most. And the quasirandom numbers, by giving up all pretense to unpredictability or lack of correlation, are able to achieve higher uniformity.
Uniformity of distribution is measured in terms of its opposite, which is called discrepancy. For points in a two-dimensional square, discrepancy is calculated as follows. Consider all the rectangles with sides parallel to the coordinate axes that could possibly be drawn inside the square. For each such rectangle, count the number of points enclosed, and also calculate the number of points that would be enclosed, based on the area of the rectangle, if the distribution were perfectly uniform. The maximum difference between these numbers, taken over all possible rectangles, is a measure of the discrepancy.
Another measure of discrepancy, called star discrepancy, looks only at the subset of axis-parallel rectangles that have one corner anchored at the origin of the unit square. And there's no reason to consider only rectangles; versions of discrepancy can be defined for circles or triangles or other figures. The measures are not all equivalent; results vary depending on the shape. It's interesting to note that the process for measurement of discrepancy has a strong resemblance to the Monte Carlo process itself.
Grids and lattices fare poorly when it comes to discrepancy because the points are arranged in long rows and columns. An infinitely skinny rectangle that should enclose no points at all can take in an entire row. From such worst-case rectangles it follows that the discrepancy of a square lattice with N points is √N. Interestingly, it turns out that the discrepancy of a random or pseudorandom lattice is also about √N. In other words, in an array of a million random points, there is likely to be at least one rectangle that has either 1,000 points too many or 1,000 too few.
Quasirandom patterns are deliberately designed to thwart all opportunities for drawing such high-discrepancy rectangles. For quasirandom points, the discrepancy can be as low as the logarithm of N, which is much smaller than √N. For example, at N=106, √N=1,000 but log N=20. (I am taking logarithms to the base 2.)
Discrepancy is a key factor in gauging the performance of Monte Carlo and quasi–Monte Carlo simulations. It determines the level of error or statistical imprecision to be expected for a given sample size. For conventional Monte Carlo, with random sampling, the expected error diminishes as 1/√N. For quasi–Monte Carlo, the corresponding "convergence rate" is (log N)d/N, where d is the dimensionality of the space. (Various constants and other details are neglected here, so the comparison is valid only for rates of growth, not for exact values.)
The 1/√N convergence rate for random sampling can be painfully slow. Getting one more decimal place of precision requires increasing N by a factor of 100, which means that a one-hour computation suddenly takes four days. The reason for this sluggishness is the clumpiness of the random distribution. Two points that happen to lie close together waste computer effort, because the same region is sampled twice; conversely, voids between points leave some areas unsampled and thereby contribute to the error budget.
Compensating for this drawback, random sampling has one very important advantage: The convergence rate does not depend on the dimension of the space. To a first approximation, the program runs as fast in 100 dimensions as in two dimensions. Quasi–Monte Carlo is different in this respect. If only we could ignore the factor of (log N)d, the performance would be dramatically superior to random sampling. We would have a 1/N convergence rate, which calls for just a tenfold increase in effort for each additional decimal place of precision. However, we can't ignore the (log N)d part. This factor grows exponentially with increasing dimension d. The effect is small in dimension 1 or 2, but eventually it becomes enormous. In 10 dimensions, for example, (log N)10/N remains larger than 1/√N until N exceeds 1043.
It was this known slow convergence in high dimensions that led to surprise over the success of the Paskov and Traub financial calculation with d=360. The only plausible explanation is that the "effective dimension" of the problem is actually much lower than 360. In other words, the volume being measured doesn't really extend through all the dimensions of the space. (In the same way, a sheet of paper lives in a three-dimensional space, but not much is lost by pretending it has no thickness.)
This explanation may sound dismissive: The calculation succeeded not because the tool was more powerful but because the problem was easier than it looked. But note that the effective reduction in dimension works even when we don't know which of the 360 dimensions can safely be ignored. That's almost magical.
How commonplace is this phenomenon? Is it just a fluke, or confined to a narrow class of problems? The answer is not yet entirely clear, but a notion called "concentration of measure" offers a reason for optimism. It suggests that the high-dimension world is mostly a rather smooth and flat place, analogous to a high-gravity planet where it costs too much to create jagged alpine landscapes.
The Monte Carlo method is not a new idea, and neither is the quasi–Monte Carlo variation. Simulations based on random sampling were attempted more than a century ago by Francis Galton, Lord Kelvin and others. In those days they worked with true random numbers (and had a fine time generating them!).
The Monte Carlo method per se was invented and given its name at the Los Alamos Laboratory in the years after World War II. It's no surprise that the idea emerged there: They had big problems (even more frightening than collateralized mortgage obligations); they had access to early digital computers (ENIAC, MANIAC); and they had a community of creative problem-solvers (Stanislaw Ulam, John von Neumann, Nicholas Metropolis, Marshall Rosenbluth). From the outset, the Los Alamos group relied on pseudorandom numbers. At the first conference on Monte Carlo methods, in 1949, von Neumann delivered his famous quip: "Anyone who considers arithmetic methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin." Then he proceeded to sin.
Quasi–Monte Carlo was not far behind. The first publication on the subject was a 1951 report by Robert D. Richtmyer, who was head of the theoretical division at Los Alamos. The paper is an impressive debut. It sets forth the motivation for quasirandom sampling, introduces much of the terminology, and explains the mathematics. But it was also presented as an account of a failed experiment; Richtmyer had wanted to show improved convergence time for quasi–Monte Carlo computations, but his results were negative. I am a fervent believer in reporting negative results, but I have to concede that it may have inhibited further investigation.
In 1968 S. K. Zaremba, then at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, wrote a strident defense of quasirandom sampling (and a diatribe against pseudorandom numbers). As far as I can tell, he won few converts.
Work on the underlying mathematics of low-discrepancy sequences has gone on steadily through the decades (most notably, perhaps, by Klaus Friedrich Roth, I. M. Sobol, Harald Niederreiter and Ian H. Sloan). Now there is renewed interest in applications, and not just among the Wall Street quants. It's catching on in physics and other sciences as well. Ray-tracing in computer graphics is another promising area.
The shifting fortunes of pseudo- and quasirandomness might be viewed in the context of larger trends. In the 19th century, randomness of any kind was an unwelcome intruder, reluctantly tolerated only where necessary (thermodynamics, Darwinian evolution). The 20th century, in contrast, fell madly in love with all things random. Monte Carlo models were a part of this movement; the quantum theory was a bigger part, with its insistence on divine dice games. Paul Erdös introduced random choice into the methodology of mathematical proof, which is perhaps the unlikeliest place to look for it. In computing, randomized algorithms became a major topic of research. The concept leaked into the arts, too, with aleatoric music and the spatter paintings of Jackson Pollack. Then there was chaos theory. A 1967 essay by Alfred Bork called randomness "a cardinal feature of our century."
By now, though, the pendulum may be swinging the other way, most of all in computer science. Randomized algorithms are still of great practical importance, but the intellectual excitement is on the side of derandomization, showing that the same task can be done by a deterministic program. An open question is whether every algorithm can be derandomized. Deep thinkers believe the answer will turn out to be yes. If they're right, randomness confers no essential advantage in computing, although it may still be a convenience.
Quasirandomness seems to be taking us in the same direction, with a preference for taking our drams of randomness in the smallest possible doses. What's ahead may be a kind of homeopathic doctrine, where the greater the dilution of the active agent, the greater its potency. That's nonsense in medicine, but perhaps it works in mathematics and computation.
©Brian Hayes
You can find this online at http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/num2/quasirandom-ramblings/2
© 2016 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society


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I have high hopes for our man Austin this year, think he's really going to turn the corner...
"I like linebackers. I collect 'em. You can't have too many good ones." - Bill Parcells
"Name the starting linebackers from 2007." - Jerry Reese
I have to agree. Everybody is saying hes no good but every chance hes been on the field hes dominated and blown up o lineman pass rushing. Although they were 2nd and 3rd string it is still what it is. The guy is 300+ and ran a sub 5.0 40 and pushed out 38 bench reps which is remarkable. He hasn't showed much stopping the run but has been injured so much (which is ridiculous) and has a lot of potential. I think one more chance to stay healthy and prove his talent and potential this year is reasonable. Hes gonna have an awful lot of competition this year though.

subset: commoncrawl


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Eric and Paul discuss a viewer question: "Isn't it circular reasoning to use the Bible to prove the Bible?" Listen as they discuss this common fallacy and how clinging to the Word of God as your absolute authority can transform how you share your faith with others.
Tag Archives | God & the Bible
Can we put a date on the creation of the world? – Season 2 Episode 7
As the "developer" of the new book, The Plan, guest Jeff Swanson shows how his 20-year, verse-by-verse chronological study of Scripture reveals the date of the creation of the world.
Who cares how long the days of Genesis are? – Season 2 Episode 4
Eric and Paul discuss the authority of Scripture and why a proper foundation is required. Learn why a literal interpretation of the days of creation matters.
Liking Itching Ears
As an author, I like to check where my books are being sold and often check on their Amazon listings. It was amusing to find that the Amazon algorithm had recommended a useful product for people who were buying my new book, No Time for Itching Ears. It suggested that they buy a cream that […]
A Rainbow and a Covenant
Few things in creation are as beautiful or wonderful as a rainbow. It is a scientific phenomenon that can be expressed in terms of numbers associated with frequencies and wavelengths of light, and it is also an artistic object, enjoyed because of its beauty. The Science of the Rainbow The rainbow is based on some […]
The Gods That Have Not Made Anything
Thus you shall say to them: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens." (Jeremiah 10:11) Ideas can be false gods. A false god is anything that we worship in place of the True God of the Bible. If we worship something, […]
God is Absolute!
I am tired of people that claim the name of Christ but don't defend the God of the Bible. Hey Christians, News Flash – God is Absolute!
Proclaiming Truth without Arrogance
If you are hoping that the title indicates that this is a "how-to" guide, then you will be mistaken. I am not qualified to explain how to speak or write without arrogance, because this is a constant battle for me. One answer that some people use is to equivocate on what they write. The constant […]


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When considering local and long distance telephone service providers, look up telephone companies on the Internet and in your phone directory, and ask friends and relatives about their providers. Several phone shopping comparison links are available online, with links to Indiana telecommunications service providers available here.
Keep shopping if:
- The company refuses to provide information in writing.
- You don't understand the rates or charges, and the company does not explain them to your satisfaction.
You may live in an area where many telecommunications service providers compete for your business, giving you many options and the opportunity to save money by choosing solutions that meet your needs. The keys to shopping for telecommunications services are to know your needs and understand your options. Whether you use a traditional landline, wireless service, Internet-based phone service, or a combination, every residential and business customer will have different calling needs.
Many telephone service providers offer "bundled" local and long distance services for a monthly flat rate. Bundled plans may benefit consumers who make many long distance calls, want convenience or want a number of optional services such as caller ID, voice mail, etc. For other consumers, combining separate plans and service options may be the most cost-effective option.
Wireless telephone service providers usually offer "family plans," which may offer substantial savings based on phone usage in your household, while "unlimited" calling plans involve no usage limitations or overage charges. If you consider such a service, it is helpful to know how many minutes you average per month and to research whether a current or different plan may actually be more economical.
Some telecommunications service providers also offer service packages that combine cable/satellite television, Internet and telephone services into a bundled plan. These packages may offer some consumers substantial savings on their telecommunications services. However, consumers should study all of their needs to ensure that they receive the services they have chosen in the most cost-effective manner. The OUCC Website offers publications and links that can help with these decisions.
To understand your telephone service needs, review your monthly phone bills to determine your calling pattern. Begin by reviewing:
Once you understand your calling pattern, compare the different options (such as landline and wireless companies, prepaid calling cards, Internet service providers, and 10-10 "dial-around" numbers). Review provider Websites and request written information on companies' offers to ensure there is no misunderstanding. Keep in mind that you may be able to select different companies and different services for different types of long distance calls such as state-to-state calls and local long distance calls. (A "local long distance call" is a call made outside your local calling area but within an industry-defined region known as a "local access transport area [LATA]." There are 10 such regions in Indiana.)
When considering your needs for local telephone service, determine the average number of calls you make or receive each month and the optional services you would like to have. Check with providers to compare their flat-rate plans and per-call plans, as well as any packages of optional plans.
As with any contract or purchase, read the fine print.
If you are changing from one wireless service provider to another, be aware of whether you are violating the terms of an existing service contract. Early termination penalties are likely to apply and may be considerable.
Various calling plans from telephone service providers (including landline, wireless and Internet) offer unlimited long distance calling with no per-call fees. Some plans offer completely unlimited long distance calling while others offer unlimited calling under certain conditions (certain times of the day, wireless-to-wireless, etc.).
An unlimited plan may help some customers save money, but not all. If you clearly understand your calling patterns and typical telephone usage, you can determine whether such a plan is right for you.
If switching providers within a local calling area, you may be able to keep your current telephone number. Be sure to ask about this and visit Websites on wireless local number portability (linked from the OUCC site) for additional information. Regardless, do not cancel your existing phone service. Allow your new provider to handle the changes, and be ready to give your new provider a copy of your most recent bill. Also, be aware that only specific phones will work on a specific wireless provider's network due to technological restrictions. If you need a new wireless phone, find out about the costs and possible discounts.
Telecommunications services, options and billing plans are constantly evolving. By monitoring current trends and visiting provider Websites on a regular basis, you may find a better deal (or deals) than what you currently have. Reducing your telephone bill may also be as simple as contacting your current provider and requesting a lower rate.
Regardless of which service(s) you choose, be sure to shop for the best deal. Remember that a provider should be able to answer any questions you may have about its services, and always remember to read the fine print.
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Magnets are a classic way to promote your brand and increase your stickiness factor throughout countless establishments. How many times a day do you go to the office fridge? How about your fridge at home? Magnets provide a stealthy means for keeping your brand name as fresh in the mind of prospects as the food in their fridge. Look through our inventive collection of magnets and clips, or work with our team at ePromos to locate that one design that'll be sure to stick.
The Keep-It Clip Custom Awareness Ribbon Memo and Bag Clip clips to bags to keep your food or ideas fresh, and shows your awareness of what's really important.
Your custom magnet will be visible all day!


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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Further readings for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
As the successor to the EF 50mm f1.8 II, this upgraded model features a new exterior design in keeping with other recent EF and EF-S models and a metal mount. It also adopts a stepper motor for more responsive and quieter AF. Read on to find out how well this upgraded model performs.
In the first part of our comprehensive lens recommendations for the new entry-level Canon EOS Rebel T5 / 1200D, we've assessed a raft of primes from both the maker and third parties to see how well they perform on the camera. As well as highlighting the best performers we've also taken a closer look at the best on a budget.
In the lead up to Photokina 2012, Canon announced the new Canon EOS 6D full-frame entry-point model within days of Nikon publicizing their most-affordable full-frame camera to date, the 24-Mpix D600. While the EOS 6D boasted some attention grabbing features including built-in WiFi and GPS and slightly undercut the Nikon on price, it couldn't match its rival in one or two key areas, namely the less populated AF system and lower resolution sensor.
With its compact and lightweight body, the Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 / Kiss X7 is the smallest DSLR in the firm's line-up. While it adopts a similar performing sensor to the EOS 700D, the body is around 25% of the size of that model by volume and presents its own set of challenges when selecting lenses for it. In this review, we've taken a look at the optical quality of 130 different lenses fitted to the camera but this time we're also making some limited recommendations about the handling and video capabilities.
Announced this past June alongside the Canon EOS Rebel T4i DSLR camera, the new Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM is an ultra-slim, entry-level pancake lens that uses Canon's Stepping Motor Technology (STM) to enable extra-quiet continuous autofocus, making it well-suited for video shooting.
(This review has been prepared with Focus Numérique, a French photo news website)
Owning a 50mm lens is probably a must for any photographer. These primes are ideal for many good reasons. Mounted on a full-frame body, they provide a neutral field of view. Not a wide-angle, and not yet a telephoto lens, it is said to be close to human vision. On wide sensors, a 50mm lens can be the perfect companion for many different activities, including reportage, portraits, or even landscapes.
Mounted on an APS-C sensor, they become a short 75mm telephoto that is highly suitable for portraits.
Added by AP7 | December 19 , 2012
Canon 50mm Needs ...
faster and quieter AF motor and 7-bladed rounded aperture like Sony and Nikon. This lens is optically very good although Nikon and Sony version is better wide open at f/1.8. Canon needs to put some more attention for entry level folks. If someone buy DSLR now, my advice would be go for either Sony or Nikon. They have newer and cheaper prime lenses, such as 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and macro. Go for Canon if they take steps to update entry level prime lenses.
Added by nachaserra | February 20 , 2012
I don´t get it! It seems like this lens has better resolution than the Canon 50 f1.2 "L" lens!!!! Is that even posible???? The "L" series are far away better than this lens! I own the 1.8 and do not use it because of the bad quality!


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Spring Fling 2013 kicks off Thursday, April 4, at Little Rock-West from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the student parking lot.
Due to rain in the weather forecast, Spring Fling at PTC Little Rock-West will be moved indoors to room 240 and the lobby outside of Student Services. The event hours will remain the same: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
This year's western theme is "Thrills and Spills" and offers carnival-style games like ski-ball, basketball, and a mechanical bull, a deejay, clown, and wax hands. Nachos will be served instead of hot dogs.
Other Spring Fling events will be April 11 at the Main Campus and April 18 at Little Rock-South.
Pulaski Technical College


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Town Square
Does transportation impact current home prices
Original post made by Hal Bailey, CDSI, another community, on Jan 10, 2008
Today, via HSVT (HSBC), a Reuters report discussed the impact of transportation access on the value of homes in the current USAmerican markets. Homes far from job centers without significant rapid transit access are suffering the largest downturn in home prices. Homes in the near suburbs and cities are holding value.
AS we approach $4 per gallon of gas this Spring, Transportation will become as important as schools to home buyers according to Reuters. I would suggest that this forum would be an appropriate place to post commentary, information and study referrals on transportation and home values.
Best wishes,
Hal Bailey, CDSI Research Fellowship, email@example.com
Distribution to All things Alamo & Pop(u)lar e-chain
a resident of another community
on Jan 10, 2008 at 4:26 pm
In researching various transportation studies in Contra Costa County and comparing the availability of convenient, rapid transportation, our CDSI researchers determined that housing pricing in the corridor beyond the end of BART in East County is reflecting price pressures due to the cost of individual transportation. It was discovered that several focus studies were conducted in the past 15 months to determine how commuters relate cost of transportation to jobs into their cost of housing. Interviewing the focus study firms, the interviewers noted that a home buyer in Brentwood Region expects his monthly transportation costs to equal his property taxes at >$700 per month.
BART rail extension would reduce that cost to less that half, thus a very convenient transfer bus to the station is additional value for any home. To prove that point even further, Walnut Creek upscale condos continue to attract buyers based on the convenience of BART nearby complimented by exceptional lifestyle in the community.
Convenient, rapid transportation has not come to Walnut Creek to Dublin corridor but focus studies illustrate express bus routes remapped to potential ridership, including park and ride, will increase ridership in the corridor by three times within 21 months. New lateral express routes that feed eastern neighborhoods of the corridor are considered the greatest growth potential.
With that consideration, neighbors, where would you want convenient, rapid transportation and to what destinations?
Hal Bailey, CDSI Research Fellowship, email@example.com


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Discussion in 'Member Introductions' started by IPFK83, Jan 23, 2011.
Newbie here from North Carolina. I drive a 2006 silverado extended cab short bed.
I'm a big fan of extended cab, short bed trucks myself. Sounds like you've got a nice ride. Welcome aboard!
Welcome to the site.
Thanks guys. oh yeah its also 4x4 forgot to add that
Welcome to the club
Welcome to the site!
---------- Post added at 07:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:34 AM ----------
Welcome to the club!
Welcome to the club, where in NC?
Thanks, from Jacksonville
Welcome to the club.
welcome to the site from san fran, ca
Separate names with a comma.


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Do Blondes 'Look a Little Bit Porno' in Red?
Naomi Watts thinks so.By Christina Han
Naomi Watts thinks so.By Christina Han
Trump Budget Based on $2 Trillion Math Error [Updated]
Trump Signs Holocaust Museum's Book of Remembrance Like It's a Middle-School Yearbook
Donald and Melania Trump Hold Hands Because They're Fine, Everything's Fine. (Update: No, They're Not.)
Melania Trump Swatted the President Away When He Tried to Hold Her Hand
Trump Asked Intelligence Chiefs to Undermine FBI's Russia Probe: Report
Ariana Grande 'Broken' After Manchester Arena Bombing, Reportedly Suspends the Rest of Her World Tour
The Bachelorette Season-Premiere Recap: This Feels Different
Monica Lewinsky Wrote a Scathing Good-bye to Roger Ailes
Trump's Russia Scandal Is Becoming a Corruption Scandal
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost Were Reportedly Making Out at the SNL After-Party


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I just got interested in beekeeping after meeting a beekeeper that wanted to use my land for his hives. I received quite a bit of one on one lessons and got my feet wet exploring the bee yard and hives. I decided this would be something I would like and it is also a good use of my land. I think I may have started too late because I went out and bought all my beekeeping equipment and I'm ready to start a colony, but I have no Bees !! ha ha ha
If this year flops for me at least I'll be ready next season.
So, now that I am ready to begin beekeeping I start searching for packaged bees and a queen. I find out I'm too late this season and all the packaged bees have been sold. Now I'm seeing lots of Queens being sold. I don't think I can start a colony with just a Queen can I ? As I search further for bees I notice that there are Summer Nucs being sold. Maybe this is the route I should go ? I'm not really sure what to do at this stage. I guess the best I can do while I'm looking for bees is to try and catch a swarm. Any thoughts on how I can populate my new hives and begin some colonies ? Is it too late in the season now ? Are Summer Nucs a good way to start or should I just hang loose until next season ?


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Town Square
A catharsis in Alamo leadership??
Original post made by Community courtesy, another community, on Apr 14, 2009
Are we seeing a catharsis of leadership in Alamo?
Following the March 3 results, proponents and candidates are pursuing outreach in the organized communication by a majority of neighbors in their neighborhoods. Considering the shifting leadership in Alamo and its impact on the AIA, county advisory committees and an emerging chamber of commerce, did community group leadership end March 3 and a new majority leadership emerge? Or, in your opinions, did something else happen?
As one AIM proponent noted, it was costly to discover that AIM committee members were not leaders throughout the community. Alamo spent over $300,000 to discover that AIM committee members were strangers to the majority. AIM committee members themselves were shocked that the community did not recognize their leadership.
We are seeing AIM's supporters, AIA members, and more community group participants reaching out to their neighborhoods in order to continue supporting a local voice for our community of neighborhoods. So, let's ask your readers what they think?
A catharsis in Alamo leadership??
Hal, as a community courtesy
Comments (6)
a resident of Alamo
on Apr 14, 2009 at 10:50 am
I'm sorry but catharsis of leadership doesn't make sense. No one was purged, it was political not spiritual and I disagree that the AIM peopl were not leading the community. Just because people voted against being a town doesn't mean they were voting against AIM. There were people who just didn't want to be a town. Here is the def of catharsis. I don't see any way that it fits with what you are talking about.
Main Entry:
ca·thar·sis Listen to the pronunciation of catharsis
Inflected Form(s):
plural ca·thar·ses Listen to the pronunciation of catharses \-ˌsēz\
New Latin, from Greek katharsis, from kathairein to cleanse, purge, from katharos
circa 1775
1: purgation
2 a: purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art b: a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension
3: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression
a resident of Alamo
on Apr 17, 2009 at 10:38 am
I beg to differ with you.
I voted against "the town" AND against Vicki Koc (founder of AIM) and her misfits on AIM.
I hear on the links that she has been traveling since her defeat, no wonder things are more caqlm and pleasant in Alamo these days - Vicki is in Mexico.
a resident of Alamo
on Apr 17, 2009 at 11:18 am
And I beg to differ right back with you. Just because you have a personal axe to grind, evident in your posts, you don't represent anyone other than yourself. I strongly doubt that incorporation was defeated because everyone voted against AIM.
Since you like to use such mean spirited language, those same 'misfits' you voted against are the ones who put their time, energy and money into representing Alamo and protecting all the things that people like you claim they want Alamo to be. I don't see you volunteering for anything other than anonymous online bashing.
a resident of another community
on Apr 20, 2009 at 7:05 am
Dear Dolores,
This string of commentary is defamatory and violates your Terms of Use.
AIM lost the election because they failed to reach out to the thousands of voters in our neighborhoods and provide the definition of the government and its budgets. AIM committee members were strangers to the majority of voters thus there could be nothing personal between AIM and the majority of voters in neighborhoods.
Hal, as a community courtesy
a resident of another community
on Apr 21, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Dear Dolores,
Many incorporation proponents are assuming that a growing catharsis of leadership in the Alamo region is an anti-AIM activity and a political battle. Many neighborhood reps are reporting just the opposite. The diversity of positions from the March 3 elections are being brought by proponents, opponents and neighbors to discussion groups that are defining community going forward.
It is the growth of diversity in such participation by many neighbors that is creating a catharsis of leadership and new diverse culture for our region. Alamo region neighbors just didn't shrink back into their neighborhoods and leave Alamo once again to the community groups.
Good things can happen when community occurs!!
a resident of Del Amigo Continuation High School
14 hours ago
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Livermore trustees demonstrating wisdom
By Tim Hunt | 12 comments | 1,434 views
Material Matters
By John A. Barry | 0 comments | 165 views
2017 guide to summer camps
Looking for something for the kids to do this summer, learn something new and have fun? The 2017 Summer Camp Guide features local camps for all ages and interests.


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A space cadet with no filter who is not afraid to shout out words like "cunt" in public.
Oh man she totally went narae on us the other night at the restaurant
by Tonksy January 31, 2009
Another name for the mythical beast "The Kraken." A Na-rae is summoned as a hidden weapon by inept project managers to organize data that they do not understand to give the appearance of understanding.
"Beware the Narae on night shift!"
by Guy Smileys April 21, 2010


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Argentina vs South Korea Kabaddi World Cup 2016 Match
Prince Sethi is the featured Columnist of Playcaper. Sports, Sports and Sports that's the three things he loves the most. He names his favorite sportsmen as Virat Kohli and Messi.
Latest posts by Prince (see all)
- India vs Malaysia Hockey Match 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Live Score, Live Streaming And News - May 5, 2017
- India vs Japan Hockey Game Sultan Azlan Shah 2017 Cup Live Score, Live Streaming And News - May 3, 2017
- Australia vs India Hockey Match 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Preview, Live Score And Live Streaming - April 30, 2017


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42's information technology consulting services offer an unparalleled breadth of technical skills, plus personal service that makes you feel heard and valued. We excel at transforming IT systems from disruptive obstacles into productivity-enhancing tools. Our flat-fee technical support programs are designed for companies with a wide range of needs, from just the basics to total insurance.
Learn more about 42 and our IT support programs.


text: Someone close by sells extra virgin honey. It doesn't look very appealing (looks granulated) however, it is evident that he or she sells quite a bit of it. Can extra virgin honey be strained? Or is straining the same thing as filtering? This stuff claims to be unprocessed and unfiltered.


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Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information.
Our Goals
Through Paths to QUALITY we can help child care providers take the necessary steps to achieve higher levels of quality in their programs; and empower families with an easy to understand consumer guide to choosing the care that is best for their children. Elevating community awareness on the importance of quality child care and early education requires a systematic approach which involves:


text: BUCS-LIONS WORKING ON A DEAL Our friends at WDAE in Tampa have tipped us off to a rumor that we're in the process of confirming that the Lions have traded the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft to the Buccaneers for the No. 4 overall pick and defensive end Simeon Rice. A league source tells us that, while there is not a done deal, the talks are occurring regarding a flip-flop of No. 2 and No. 4. It's not presently clear whether Rice is part of the deal. The Bucs presumably want to get in position to take receiver Calvin Johnson with the No. 2 selection, if the Raiders don't take Johnson with the No. 1. The real intrigue on this one arises if the Raiders take Johnson. Would the Bucs then pick quarterback JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn? Or would they take left tackle Joe Thomas? Recently, the Bucs conducted on-campus workouts with Johnson, Russell, and Quinn. They didn't include Thomas in the tour, and we've seen some evidence in the Tampa press of possible efforts by the team to bad-mouth Thomas, possibly in the hopes that he'll be available at No. 4. It could be that the Lions are willing to make the deal to go down to No. 4 because they think they could still get Thomas at that spot. But if Johnson is the No. 1 pick, Thomas might be long gone by the time the Lions use the pick currently held by Tampa. We're keeping a close eye on this one. Check back for more details.


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The age range in your twenties, beginning at 24 and ending at 26. Up until 24 (20-23), you're in your early twenties. After 26 (27-29), you're in your late twenties.
When I hit 24, I had transitioned from my early twenties to my mid-twenties. Then I had a mid-twenties crisis.
by Cspan May 23, 2009


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Printer history
i have one question. Is there any possible way to found out, what was printed on my printer in past.
I've checked firmware of my printer and i didn't find nothing.
Thank you!
Have a nice day.
General discussion on the topic of forensics.
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Town Square
DPD: Pittsburg residents arrested after 'casing' neighborhood
Original post made on Jun 7, 2014
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, June 6, 2014, 4:31 PM
a resident of Blackhawk
on Jun 7, 2014 at 9:08 am
Community at its finest! Whoever had the watchful eyes, well done. Good job Danville PD!
a resident of Danville
on Jun 9, 2014 at 7:30 am
Good job. If someone hadn't taken the time to report them they probably would have broken into several homes, or cars. There are those who have nothing better to do and no jobs that want what you have cause the government says they deserve it too. Of course, they are taking our current administrations mantra of "redistribution of wealth" into their own hands as well. Crime is not leveling off or getting better, watch the police reports - its on the increase.
a resident of Blackhawk
on Jun 9, 2014 at 9:52 am
@Louise - Yaaaawn! don't try to politicize this.
Its crime, plain and simple .. committed for many reasons across all towns and cities nationwide. Nothing to do with who is in power.
a resident of Alamo
on Jun 9, 2014 at 10:40 am
Hey Louise you are 100% correct...
Xin Han...Louise knows the reason and so do I as well as many in the Country.
It is you that has no clue of what the Administration is pushing.
I and now many other folks want to see the fool of fools leave the office he so disgraced.
Thank you Louise for saying it correctly and thank you Xin Han for just proving our point.
Julia Pardini from Alamo...
a resident of Danville
on Jun 9, 2014 at 3:31 pm
Sure, Julia and Louise - politics explains why crime rates today, compared to 2005 (when we had Republicans in control of all three branches of the federal government, as well as a Republican Governator right here in California) have in fact significantly ***declined.*** Web Link
Yes, I know - reality is just an annoyance to right wing Foxbots. You have to keep your fear and anger at a fever pitch to avoid seeing something you're not supposed to see. So carry on with your delusional explanation that everything in the US must be worse today because of Obama. Say it over and over again, like a mantra..."Obama bad. Obama bad. Obama bad."
There. Feel better now?
a resident of Danville
on Jun 9, 2014 at 4:37 pm
Thanks for posting the CA crime statistics link, Peter Kluget.
Even though the federal government might have some sort of effect on crime rates, I think it is fair to say that CA state government has relatively more influence on CA crime statistics. So I thought it was interesting to compare the property crimes chart from the link you provided, with the terms of recent CA governors:
Deukmejian (R) 1983-1990 - property crimes mostly flat
Wilson (R) 1991-1998 - property crimes reduced, fairly consistently
Davis (D) 1999-2003 - property crimes up
Schwarzenegger (R, sort of....) 2004-2010 - property crimes down
Brown (D) 2011-present - property crimes down slightly or flat for 2011, and then up in 2012 (no data for 2013).
Admittedly, there are only seven "D" years in the above chart, versus 23 "R" years. Probably too few to draw any real conclusions.
a resident of Danville
on Jun 10, 2014 at 1:33 pm
All of you are full of sh-t crime is crime its going to happen either way you cut the cookie. Good eyes who ever called them in!
a resident of Danville
on Jun 10, 2014 at 2:02 pm
Congrats to Danville PD. I appreciate you.
Thank you to whomever called this in. Very observant of you; I appreciate you also.
Crime is crime..... it ebbs and flows based upon a variety of factors, and politics isn't one of them.... Think (1) opportunity, (2) location, (3) environment, (4) economy, (5) time of day, (6) lack of security measures in place, ETC.
a resident of Danville
on Jun 10, 2014 at 8:09 pm
There has statistically been an inverse relationship between the economy and crime. When the economy is bad crime goes up and vice versa. So it seems reasonable to lay a measurable amount of the blame on the current administrations, both in the state and in the nation.
As we are all aware, government spending has been in the extreme since Obama took office. Such spending has historically created a negative effect on the economy. Mostly because much of government spending is focused on ensuring the reelection of incumbents, and does not necessarily focus on improving the economy. In short, it's policy based not job driven.
If we take this further we see that a lack of jobs leads to crime. Take into account that California's reported jobless rate is around 8 percent (48th in the nation). California's U-6 rate (a jobless percent, which accounts for those who are looking and those who have given up looking for work) is stated at 20.3%. One may now begin to see how government policy effects the economy and the economy effects crime. If you can't afford bread, you may choose to steal it.
But of course, we could just blindly ignore this and all other reason. I mean, why think when you can yawn.
Resources for Your Perusal
UN link on crime: Web Link
Web Link
Web Link
Web Link
a resident of Danville
on Jun 11, 2014 at 8:59 am
hhill, were you in a coma from 2006 until 2009? Because I wasn't, and as a result I'm aware that the economy was circling the drain before the current president took office, with over 2 million jobs lost in the three months preceding his inauguration, due to a recession which began at a time when Republicans controlled all three branches of government. The economy is significantly better now, both in California and throughout the nation, as the US has recovered from the recession faster than most nations which adopted different policies to deal with the crisis. By your light, crime rates should have plummeted over the past 5 years.
As for government spending being "in the extreme" federal government spending relative to GDP is lower now than when Ronald Reagan was president - look it up. (Web Link - table 1.2)
Of course, why think when you can parrot right wing propaganda?
P.S. for what it's worth, Haha and Wes are right. Crime statistics reliably track one factor - demographics. Crime is overwhelmingly the province of young men. More young men - more crime. Politics and the economy have very little if any impact on crime rates.


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Faith: The new normal
Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church, Crosslake
On NBC's website these words describe its popular show, "The New Normal."
"It's 2012 and anything goes. These days families come in all forms — single dads, double moms, sperm donors, egg donors, one-night-stand donors …"
From there it depicts the main stars, two gay men who want a child.
But of course, it's impossible to have one so enter a young woman with a checkered past, a single woman trying to escape her dead-end life and small-minded grandmother. So off to L.A. she goes with her precious 8-year-old daughter in tow.
Now broke, but fertile, she becomes the guys' surrogate dream girl, the missing mother their "new normal" family needs.
As usual, the networks are quick to promote our nation's cultural beliefs. Consider the recent poll where 58 percent of our people now support the gay lifestyle and the new family structures they create, even though they are outside of God's "Order of Creation".
Not to mention many of our leaders in our state and federal legislatures, senates, governorships, the presidency, as well as religious leaders and their followers. The list appears endless for those who support this "new normal".
What I find witless in all of this is the belief that there is actually a "new normal", as if historically people have not tried to elevate these choices to be enlightened and righteous.
Jesus and the Apostles once faced their culture that considered them normal, but then condemned them as sinful. So for centuries many people, as well as Christians, have called these choices Hellenistic because they mimic the religious idolatry the ancient Greeks and Romans practiced.
History, for instance, reveals that Greek men commonly had homosexual partners, and prostitutes of both sexes were welcomed into homes, with husbands, wives and families engaging in what they believed was worship to Bacchus and Dionysus, their gods of wine and song.
So now it's evident that Hellenism is once again on the rise in our country that once touted itself as being staunchly Christian, if not simply moral.
It's clear that what Christians and non-Christians alike once considered contrary to God's "Order of Creation" is slowly but surely becoming accepted as normal and common.
This, too, does not surprise me as God's Word is no longer kept as inviolate, inerrant and essential for directing the choices we make in life.
What troubles me, therefore, in regard to our blessed nation is that people across the board no longer fear God's displeasure toward their sinful behavior. They do not believe, even though they know about God's anger that their immoral choices and their denial of Christ's grace defines what will become of them as the Apostle Paul writes:
"Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32 ESV).
Consequently, in promoting this "new normal" that rejects God's truth, it effectively blinds our nation to His will that we need to turn from our sins, cry out for Christ's forgiveness and then enlist His aid not to repeat them.
Our nation's concept of a "new normal," therefore, is not unique to our day. It does, however, demonstrate our desperate need for a Savior — someone we can turn to in the weaknesses of our flesh to find forgiveness, hope and redemption when we wander aimlessly from God's Word of truth as our nation has.
And there is only one Savior, my friends, who can — God's Son, Jesus Christ, who came in our flesh to take all the sins of the world on His shoulders and then died on the Cross that we might receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God on the last day as St. Paul also writes about: "on the day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." (Romans 2:16 ESV)


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Vacations for Creative Minds
If your idea of a weekend is art galleries, wine tastings and curling up with a good non fiction book, then these creative vacations are for you.
While most vacationers tend to spend no longer than a couple of hours visiting a museum or attending a music event to take in local culture, some would like to take a more intimate vacation that focuses on the finer things in life: art, music and literature. Planning a culture-oriented trip can be hard, but we've rounded up five of the most impressive trip ideas we've come across for a vacation designed for the creative mind.
Underwater Museum, Cancun
Photo Courtesy of: Flickr
Located a short distance from the famous Manchones Reef, artist Jason deCaires Taylor has created a one-of-a-kind man-made reef that consists of over 400 permanent life-size statues, which has quickly became one of the most ambitious underwater artistic attractions in the world. Developed to draw the hundreds of thousands of tourists who come to Cancun each year away from the now damaged natural reefs, the museum has become an overnight sensation in all circles of art lovers.
This is the only museum in the universe where you will not fall victim to screaming children, loud talkers or avant-garde trust fund "artists" critiquing over their cell phones; that alone is reason to go. While visiting this matchless art gallery is free, the owners strongly suggest a guided tour to fully grasp the experience and meaning of each piece. If you're not into getting up close and personal with submerged lifelike sculptures in the deafening silence of the ocean, you can also see the sculptures via glass bottom boats or, for the more adventurous, by parasail. More info.
Jack Kerouac's New York City
Photo Courtesy of: Flickr Pick up a pack of cigarettes, fill a flask, slip your favorite Kerouac paperback in your jeans pocket and set out on this unique walking tour which envelops you in all of the sights and sounds that influenced the legendary father of the beatniks. If you're not into drinking heavily, skip the flask; most of these places will be taverns of sorts thanks to Kerouac's love of alcohol. But this walking tour does include a couple of parks, so regular imbibers may want to come prepared for a drink emergency.
The one place on the list that you can't miss is the legendary White Horse Tavern. Grab a bite and a pint in the bar that was once the stomping grounds of such famous writers as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson and Bob Dylan. Since it is a must-see for many tourists, go in the early afternoon if you want to experience the pub in all its glory. This place is any beatnik enthusiast's dream since the décor and interior haven't changed much except for the added rooms to either side of the bar and the absent, fabled bathroom scrawling, "JACK GO HOME!" More info.
Roskilde Festival, Denmark
Photo Courtesy of: Flickr
If you're sick of the American festivals and need a major change of scenery in your summer roster, book tickets for the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. All the girls in Denmark are gorgeous blondes (who know how to drink like it's their job), the atmosphere is chock-full of good food and great beer and the festival grounds are gorgeous rolling fields with a backdrop of local street art and stunning Danish women. Did we already mention the women? Yes, they're so gorgeous they need to be mentioned twice.
Deeming itself to be a "place to experience new, sprouting names, contemporary stars and timeless legends," Roskilde has been the music industry's little secret since 1971. With major artists like Bob Marley, U2, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins and Kanye West headlining the festival over the past 40 years, it's a mecca for any music enthusiast.
With over 180 bands performing each year, most opt to camp on-site for the four days of the festival, making it one of the best 96-hour parties imaginable. By the end, you'll be leaving with newfound friends, a mind bursting with creativity and an itch to make the trip the following year. Between the great weather you can expect in Denmark, the fellow music-loving concertgoers and huge headliners, Roskilde should be a go-to destination for any creative soul. More info.
Bristol Street Art Tours
Photo Courtesy of: heatheronhertravels.com Since street art is, in most cases, illegal and often painted over by municipalities or amateur graffiti punks, many of the best pieces of artwork are only visible for a short time. With numerous artists expressing themselves through street art in the U.K., Bristol is the perfect place for anyone who wants to experience this iconic art medium in its natural urban habitat.
Home of the world-famous street artist Banksy, Bristol's thriving art scene is exceptionally diverse, with an incredible number of gifted artists at its forefront. Art enthusiasts are free to roam the streets of Bristol to discover iconic pieces by Banksy that have remained intact against the test of time. Once you've spent a day with the notorious street artist, be sure to check out other up-and-coming artists who are finding their place in the art community by livening up the dull and unvisited walls of urban environments. More info.
Salvador Dali Museum, Florida
Photo Courtesy of: Flickr If you're itching for a vacation mixed with luxury and fine art but you're on a budget, plan a quick getaway to St. Pete's Beach in Florida to check out the largest Salvador Dali collection outside of Europe. Being so close to such pieces as The Hallucinogenic Toreador and The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory will leave any creative heart inspired.
Built in 1982 on the St. Petersburg waterfront, the Salvador Dali Museum is home to seven of Dali's 18 masterwork paintings as well as 96 oil paintings, over 100 watercolors and drawings, 1,300 graphics, photographs, sculptures and a fantastic archival library for anyone who wants to dig deeper into Dali's surreal lifestyle. The museum also hosts a slew of events including yoga sessions, talks, tours and film viewings, all for a reasonable price if not free.
Stay at the TradeWinds Resort, located right on the gulf, so you'll be able to enjoy the beach and experience the local food and beer scene. If you are only staying for a quick visit, opt for the "Dali for a Day" package, which includes more than enough Dali-inspired amenities to get you into the surreal spirit. More info.


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Pulaski Technical College brought home 21 medals from the Arkansas SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Championship last week in Hot Springs, including eight gold, eight silver and five bronze medals.
The winners and their instructors will be honored Thursday evening at the Technical and Industrial Education Advisory dinner on the main campus.
Pulaski Tech was well-represented at the two-day event held April 19-20 at the Hot Springs Conference and Convention Center.
Students from the Pulaski Technical College Arkansas Culinary School won five medals, including two golds. Students in the Technical and Industrial Division brought home seven medals. Students in Ray Hoover's class swept the Small Engine Repair category, marking the college's 28th straight, gold-medal finish in this category. Hoover's students also brought home gold and silver medals in Motorcycle Repair Technology, and Jacob Standley's students received gold and silver medals in Collision Repair Technology.
Students from the Saline County Career Center competed in both the college-level and high-school level competitions, bringing home nine medals altogether, including four gold medals.
High school students who win or place in the state SkillsUSA competition receive a tuition waiver to attend Pulaski Tech, and that scholarship is renewable for four semesters as long as they maintain a minimum 3.9 grade-point average. At the post-secondary competition, gold and silver medalists receive a tuition wavier, renewable for two semesters.
Gold medalists also advance to the National Leadership and Skills Conference to be held June 19-24 in Kansas City, Mo.
These are the winners:
Food and Beverage Service
GOLD - Jennifer Allen
Culinary Arts
SILVER - Kelley Neasley
Commercial Baking
GOLD - Cedrick Sloan
SILVER - Mary Tanguay
BRONZE - Anabel Garcia
Collision Repair (Instructor Jacob Stanley)
SILVER - Derrick Clements
BRONZE - Benjamin Ryan
Motorcycle Repair (Instructor Ray Hoover)
GOLD - Randall R. Luchsinger, Little Rock
SILVER - Jeremey J. Mills, Sherwood
Small Engine Repair (Instructor Ray Hoover)
GOLD - John Hansen, Jacksonville
SILVER - Edward J. Zickuhr, Shannon Hills
BRONZE - James L. Humble Sr., Jacksonville
SALINE COUNTY CAREER CENTER (Secondary)
Collision Repair Technology
GOLD - Ryan Weng (Bauxite High School)
Customer Service
SILVER - Amy Thornberry (Bauxite High School)
BRONZE - Jacob Blakley (Bauxite High School)
Outstanding Chapter
SILVER - Laura Clark, Ashton Stewart and Kaitlin Hill (Benton High School)
BRONZE - Katie Washkowiak, Ashley Rollins and Britney Bumgardner (Bryant High School)
Nail Technology (Instructor Regina Woodard)
GOLD - Kendra Guess, Bauxite
Model: Nicole Hines, Bauxite
BRONZE - Tekoa Storay, Little Rock
Model: Carol Barnett, Bryant
Opening & Closing Team (Instructor Regina Woodard)
GOLD - Amanda Campbell and Sydney Ritchie, both of Benton; Sareena Johnson of Bauxite;
Sara Jones of Bryant; Megan McBryde of Star City; and Charles Smith and Stephanie Henderson, both of Little Rock.
GOLD - LaShunda Farr of Bryant; Tanisha Stokes of North Little Rock; and Ladi Mayhan of Sherwood.
Pulaski Technical College


text: 098 NOUS41 KAKQ 241425 PNSAKQ MDZ021>025-NCZ012>017-030>032-102-VAZ048-060>062-064>069-075>090- 092-093-095>100-509>525-241600- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Wakefield VA 1030 AM EDT WED MAY 24 2017 ...PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT... Between 1130 am and noon today...we will conduct a test of the NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio Alarm System. Persons with alarms on their radios...are asked to ensure that they are turned on...to confirm that the test was received. Again...the alarm test will be conducted between 1130 am and noon today. The alarm test may be cancelled without notice in the event of rapidly developing warning or watch conditions...which require the Wakefield office to shift into a higher alert mode. $$ NWS/AKQ


text: 1. What does NCCA stand for? NCCA stands for The National Commission for Certifying Agencies. By definition, the NCCA is an independent nongovernmental agency that accredits professional certification in a variety of professions, including fitness. More specifically, the NCAA is the accreditation body of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence (ICE). NCCA accreditation serves as a standard for how organizations should conduct certification. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) currently offers 4 different certifications and in offering these certifications, ACE has worked—and continues to work— hard to achieve and adhere to the standards set by the NCCA. 2. What does the NCCA look for when accrediting a certification organization such as ACE? Basically, the NCCA assesses the certifying organization's professional role and scope of practice—it evaluates the exam content, ability to provide proper exam administration and scoring. The NCCA is essentially concerned with ensuring that: The examination process is fair and unbiased. The examination accurately measures the minimal competence of the candidate for the associated profession. The public is protected from unqualified or ineffective practitioners. The organization has the means to support its professionals. 3. Why is NCCA accreditation important? NCCA accreditation is the gold standard for the majority of allied healthcare professionals and others. So if you earn an NCCA accreditation, you will position yourself as a qualified personal trainer within the healthcare continuum, which consists of medical doctors, physical therapists, etc. Establishing yourself as a qualified fitness professional amongst other healthcare professionals should lead to greater networking and work opportunities for you as a personal trainer. 4. How does ACE having NCCA accreditation affect me? The fitness industry recognizes NCCA-accredited organizations in part because of the recommendation that came from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). IHRSA recommends that club owners hire personal trainers who hold at least one current certification from a certifying organization that has obtained third-party accreditation. The NCCA has been identified as an acceptable accrediting organization given its long history of establishing quality standards for certifying agencies and programs. 5. A non-NCCA accredited certification seems to cost less than an NCCA accredited certification, so why shouldn't I go for the more affordable option? As previously mentioned, club owners are seeking to hire personal trainers who hold an NCCA-accredited certification. By investing a little more money upfront on your certification, you will increase your marketability (or employability) within the fitness industry. Club owners will view you as more qualified than someone who does not hold an NCCA-accredited certification. With increased qualification and increased hiring potential, the potential for a greater income increases, too. This translates into a greater return on your initial investment in your NCCA-accredited certification. 6. What is the difference between certification and continuing education? Many people use these terms interchangeably when really, they are two separate entities. Certification, also known as credentialing, is used to measure the ability of a candidate to apply the knowledge and skills in the role of a professional within their corresponding industry. This certification process must be standardized and unbiased as set by the NCCA-accreditation standard, which is why high-stakes exams are administered with a proctor present. Take note that certification does not imply that an individual knows everything they are required to know to be considered an expert his/her given field or industry. Continuing education, on the other hand, is what professionals who have already earned their certification receive to remain current in their field or industry. Within the fitness industry, many professionals seek out continuing education courses that allow them to specialize in one particular area of interest. For example, if a personal trainer's clientele is primarily older adults, then he/she may want to pursue continuing education focused on that particular population. Most importantly, continuing education is not a standardized, unbiased measure of someone's knowledge and ability to serve as a fitness professional whereas credentialing does fulfill those requirements. Now that you have learned more about what NCCA accreditation is and why it is important, what choice will you make when choosing a fitness certification?


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Illinois Public Media News
In-depth reporting from WILL, NPR, the Associated Press, and other sources
Contact WILL News at firstname.lastname@example.com
(Michelle Shephard/AP)
May 11, 2013
Page 664 of 1156 pages ‹ First < 662 663 664 665 666 > Last ›
WILL Newscast audio
NPR News
Highway To The Sequel Zone: Tom Cruise Says 'Top Gun 2' Is Happening
Taiwan's High Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Is Legal, In A First For Asia
'He Is Something': Trump Visits Pope Francis At The Vatican
What Does It Mean When ISIS Claims Responsibility For An Attack?
Police Cite 'Network' In Manchester Bombing Investigation, As More Arrests Are Made
The 'No Fun League' Relaxes End Zone Celebration Rules
Vigil Honors Manchester Victims; Across The Globe People Are Mournful
24 Million Children At Risk In Mideast Conflicts, Says UNICEF
How The Biggest Animal On Earth Got So Big
Senate Intelligence Committee Presses For Flynn Documents
More NPR News
WILL Highlights
A short film series examining the severe underrepresentation of African-Americans in the sciences.
Classic Mornings
Get more out of your classical music experience and check out Vic Di Geronimo's blog.
The 21st
21st century radio for the 21st state. Weekdays at 11 am on WILL-AM 580.


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Picking up Monday Candy.
Picking up Monday Candy.
Rare Candy Get!
Picking up my Rare Candy for today.
Picking up a Rare Candy for today
Last edited by Ex-Admiral Insane; 24th December 2012 at 11:33 PM.
Picking up a Candy
Collecting a rare candy, thanks.
Getting meself a candy.
Claiming a Candy
I have a Super Pass which allows me to take two Rare Candies.
Last edited by Myrrh; 31st December 2012 at 2:56 AM. Reason: Adding the Super Pass link >.>


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Pitzer Writing Center2012-2013 Writing Workshops for StudentsFridays from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. in Broad Hall 204
Fall 2012
September 28: Brainstorming and Critical Thinking Do you have a difficult time facing the blank page or coming up with an interesting argument? This workshop will focus on several "motivating moves" that can give you a head start in writing more meaningful essays.October 12: Crafting Effective Thesis StatementsWhy can thesis statements be so difficult to write? This workshop reviews numerous examples of thesis statements, highlighting why some are more effective than others. You will then receive guidance and feedback on crafting your own arguments for current assignments.November 9: Body Shop: Making Body Paragraphs FlowDo your paragraphs feel choppy? Do you ever struggle to avoid going off on tangents in your writing? This workshop will give you practice in writing body paragraphs that are fluid and coherent.November 30: Integrating SourcesDo you ever find yourself "dropping" a quotation into a paragraph, hoping the reader will see how it relates to your argument? Do you have a difficult time paraphrasing or summarizing sources? If so, come to this workshop to learn about integrating quotations with effective signal phrases and expressing the ideas of others in your own words.December 7: Citing Sources Using MLA & APAWhat are the main differences between MLA and APA formats? What information should be included in a parenthetical citation? This workshop will answer questions about the latest MLA and APA guidelines, giving you practice citing various types of sources for your essays.Spring 2013
February 1: Writing Strategies for Senior Theses How should I begin my senior thesis? This workshop will include strategies for creating timelines, organizing sources, and working with larger documents. Specifically, we will also discuss literature reviews, and approaches for organizing your project.February 22: Writing Tips for ESL StudentsESL students face unique challenges in writing college essays, from decisions about appropriate verb tense and sentence structure to the use of prepositions and idiomatic expressions. This workshop provides helpful tips from a tutor with an extensive background in working with ESL students.March 15: Reflection, Observation, and Response PapersReflection, observation, and response paper assignments often lack specific guidance on what you should address in the paper. This workshop will help you achieve an appropriate balance in these papers between personal insight and experience, on the one hand, and conceptual analysis, on the other.April 5: Analyzing and Integrating Media SourcesHave you ever wanted to include a media component in a research paper but were unsure how to integrate it smoothly into your analysis? This workshop explores various techniques to analyze and integrate primary sources into a paper, with an emphasis on non-textual materials such as music, film, and art.April 19: Citing Sources Using MLA & APAWhat are the main differences between MLA and APA formats? What information should be included in a parenthetical citation? This workshop will answer questions about the latest MLA and APA guidelines, giving you practice citing various types of sources for your essays.Writing Center workshops are designed to review specific core concepts and to help you gain confidence and familiarity with each stage of the writing process. The workshops are discussion based and include activities to help you practice and improve your writing.
RSVPs to firstname.lastname@example.com are appreciated but not required. To schedule a
one-on-one consultation with a tutor, please use our online appointment system
at pitzer.mywconline.com.


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Call 0333 200 2024 lines open Mon to Fri - 9am to 6pm
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Availability: In stock
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This light is available in a multi coloured option if required, please call for more info.
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For more information please call us on 0333 200 2024. Lines are open from Monday to Friday - 9am to 6pm. Alternatively please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Sponsored Tingles: SCENEtourage – The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
On to the final week of our SCENEtourage series. Over the last few weeks we've been working with our friends at SCENE to bring you highlights from some major upcoming Hollywood releases and giving you a chance to enter to win FREE movies at a Cineplex Entertainment Theatre for you and a guest for ONE YEAR! Details on how to enter as well as the many benefits of being a SCENE member are below. Have you entered yet? Do it NOW if you haven't cause the final draw is around the corner. What else is there to do but see movies, sometimes two a day, during the holidays?
Last week it was MI:4 versus Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. Click here if you missed it. This week, what else could it be?
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
How does the "aloof" Rooney Mara compare to the original Noomi Rapace? Reviews so far are solid. And reviews for Rooney have been overwhelmingly positive. This is a career making role, as we always knew it would be. Which is why Rooney keeps trying to erase her acting past. She doesn't want to be known as anyone other than Lisbeth Salander.
I just realised both Lisbeths are currently in theatres at the same time. Noomi Rapace is in Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows. Which … I feel like I might see both back to back now, one right after the other.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo of course is more than just Rooney Mara. It's also David Fincher, her creator. There would be no Rooney Lisbeth without David Fincher, and it goes deeper than a simple director-actor relationship, as we all noted from their interview together in Vogue. He was her Food Boss and her Film Boss… and that relationship has a certain meta-ness to it that kinda blurs the lines of art and life. Am very curious to see her through his camera.
Attached: Rooney Mara and David Fincher at a photo call in Stockholm last month.
Now back to the contest. What exactly can you win? How about 48,000 SCENE points! That's two movies per month for you and a guest for an entire year!
And how do you win? First, you have to be a Canadian resident, at least 14 years old, and a SCENE member in good standing. If you're not familiar with SCENE, it's the first and only entertainment rewards program in Canada that is packed with benefits including FREE Movies and 10% off movie snacks at Cineplex Entertainment Theatres, and exclusive Contests and Discounts for SCENE members only. Points are easy to earn and redeem and you'll get 250 just for joining. Click here to join SCENE and for more details.
Once you join, click here to go to our contest page and fill out the ballot. Fill out the form and enter your SCENE membership number. The grand prize draw will take place on December 29, 2011 and the winner will be contact via the email address provided. We'll also be doing weekly draws for two movie passes (2000 SCENE points) from entries received between featured SCENEtourage posts. Congrats to Stefania B for winning the week three draw. We have more weekly draws to come, too! So enter now.
That wraps up our feature. Big thanks to our sponsor SCENE for sponsoring the feature and for putting up the amazing prize packs. We will be in touch with the winner of the grand prize draw next week so keep an eye on your emails! Good luck!


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NEW HAVEN -- Police late Friday were investigating the city's third homicide of the year.
Police said city resident Nathan Richardson, 29, was shot and killed on Frank Street in the Hill section around 8:30 p.m.
Officer David Hartman said they found Richardson on Frank Street between Washington Avenue and West Street. Richardson was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronouned dead.
Latif Richardson, the victim's father, told police he and his son had been walking on Frank Street toward Washington Avenue when they heard gunfire. He said they both started running, when his son collapsed.
The area of the crime scene was cordoned off and detectives are continuing the investigation. There were no suspects as of late Friday.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304 or the NHPD tip line at 203-946-6296. Calls can be made anonymously.


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Legedu Naanee Poised For Breakout Season?
LEG-a-doo Nah-NAY
No, this isn't 'Hooked on Phonics.' This is simply my inaugural piece here on BOLTHYPE and it only seemed appropriate that it somehow incorporated both some football and some pronunciation tips. With Vincent Jackson's holdout appearing to be more of an ordeal than originally anticipated, it seems that Philip Rivers will need to find some new faces to become his primary targets in 2010. The supporting cast expected to fill in for Jackson in this time of need is largely unknown and somewhat unproven currently so let's take a look at one of my personal favorites likely to see an increased role in the Bolts offense this season.
Boise State first put him on the map, but until the Chargers drafted him in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Legedu Naanee was nothing more than a ridiculously fun name to say. In watching his development with the team over these past three seasons and continuously seeing him underutilized in the offensive attack, this year is finally setting up to be a coming out party for my favorite player on the Bolts roster. His versatility is largely underrated at 6'2" 225lbs. and a former quarterback in high shool actually recruited to play that position with the Broncos of Boise. If Chargers fans think that LaDainian Tomlinson was a treat lining up in the shotgun and throwing passes then they will potentially love the added dimensions that Naanee could offer to the Bolts already potent offense.
One statistic that often goes overlooked within the litany of numbers that are thrown around in the NFL is receiving efficiency for pass catchers across the board. Naanee actually led the league in that category catching 88.9 percent of the passes thrown his way totaling 24 receptions for 242 yards in 2009. As the team's third receiver he dropped just one of his 27 targets and led the team with his yards after the catch average (YAC) of 9.4 per reception. Considering the fact that these numbers were accumulated while in a lesser role as a slot receiver where he was often the second or third option in Rivers' progressions, Naanee's totals are quite impressive. Given the fact that he will likely be expanding his role significantly in the coming season as the team's number two wideout sans V Jack just behind Malcom Floyd, it seems fair to assume that his totals could increase significantly.
What really makes Naanee's addition as a full-time starter such a positive thing for the Bolts is his prowess as a blocker on running plays. When originally drafted by the team, Naanee was considered a man without a position and listed as a tight end on the depth chart. His tenacity to get after any defenders in front of him and put a body on them to help out his teammates is a definite plus when it comes to earning a starting role with the team. Reliability has to be the adjective attached to Naanee most often with his sure handedness along with his blocking abilities. As a selfless player, this once underutilized player could find himself in prime position to become a major contributor to Norv Turner's offense in the coming season.
Turner is drinking some of the Naanee Kool-Aid as well believing that this is his year to prove he is worthy of a starting role as a receiver in the league. Of the progress he's seen, Turner told Chargers.com: "We've been coaching Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis for three years and they've gotten better every year. When they've been asked to and when they've had an opportunity, they've made great contributions. Legedu believes he can be a dynamic, explosive receiver in this league." To this point in their careers, Naanee has outperformed Davis by leaps and bounds with Buster being selected nearly four full rounds prior to Legedu in the same draft. The Chargers would obviously love it if both could step up their games in 2010 to lessen the effect of Jackson's absence from the team's passing attack.
Personally, the Legedu Naanee Kool-Aid has tasted great to me for the previous two years, but he was lost in the shuffle of wideouts coming and going in San Diego. This year really could be the season where the rest of the league realizes just how productive this kid can be when given the opportunity. To this point in his career, most fans may know him for his amazing hair, his faux-marriage proposal to a Bolts cheerleader, or even just his fantabulous name. After the 2010 season however, hopefully many fans will come to understand just how impressive this guy can be between the white lines on Sundays as an every down player.
What do you think we should expect from Naanee this year? Are you excited about his upside, or do you think Naanee is still a work-in-progress? Without Vincent Jackson for a majority of the season, do you think Naanee will enter the spotlight and make a name for himself around the league? Leave your take in the comments section below!
August 8, 2010at 7:00 AM Posted by Anthony M. Blake
6 comments:
Quite possibly the best name in the NFL. If Legadu Naanee ever throws a pass to Seyi Ajirotutu, the world might know real peace.
Love his upside, love that he's getting a chance, love that he and Buster are going to get playing time. I only hope Norv uses the spread offense more.
This is a great time to be a Charger fan. All we've ever asked is that the team be a contender - a GM with stones and an owner that wants to win. I can't freaking wait for the season to begin! Go Bolts!
I just love this guy.Moves like Superman.If his leg can hold up this year,I am willing to bet he plays in the 2011 PRO-BOWl
i like him as a player but i dont feel 100% secure that he can be an amazing player, i expect him to get 3-4 catches for 40 yds something like that, we will need more than that to replace Vjack
all luck to him
I love Naanee. He has come through when we needed him in the past. I think he has what it takes to be starter. We will see great things from Naanee
I think by week 6 qualcomm will sound like a futbol stadium not football. But we will not chant ole ole ole oooleeeee, we will chant nah ney nah nay nah ney nah neyyy naaaaneeeee
good read keep it up go bolts
Naanee has proven that he is a p[layer to watch out in the coming season. We are just hopeful that the Chargers will give him more opportunities to prove himself.
We do love you Legedu
Chief frm NGR
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Jefferson Schools attack budget crisis publicly
A massive turnout in Rigby Tuesday night as the Jefferson School District fights a very public budget battle.
Nearly 1,000 parents attended a meeting at Midway Middle School.
Fiscal year 2014 is shaping up to be a rocky road for the district. Without a levy, the district will begin the year with a $500,000 deficit.
Tuesday night's meeting was essentially a straw poll to gauge which one of 3 basic scenarios district patrons prefer in tackling the budget crisis.
Scenario "A" would mean no levy; which means the district would need to make $500,000 in cuts affecting everything from athletics to library staff by tens of thousands of dollars.
Scenario "B" would call for a $500,000 levy election in May; reducing the deficit to only $54,000.
Scenario "C" would put the district back in the black to the tune of $400,000.
Patrons used colored dots to show which choice they preferred. Mother Brittany Buxton voted for no levy.
"Something has to be cut," said Buxton. "The problem has happened so now it's time to fix it."
The district will take into account the straw poll from Tuesday night when considering how to move forward.
District employees were also able to cast their colored dot votes at the meeting.


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Get an overview of this hotelRiverfront hotel with restaurant and fitness center
Collect 200 Nectar points!
Simply enter your Nectar card number when you check out. Your points will be credited 35 days after you return from your trip.*Offers may apply
Popular property highlights
Situated on a river, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Kinugawa Hot Springs Fureai Bridge and Kinugawa Onsen. Kinu Tateiwa Otsuribashi and Tobu World Square are also within 2 mi (3 km).
Hotel Features
A restaurant, a fitness center, and a meeting room are available at this hotel. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, an arcade/game room, tour/ticket assistance, and a convenience store are onsite.
All 26 rooms feature thoughtful touches like bathrobes and slippers, along with conveniences such as refrigerators and coffee makers. Other amenities available to guests include free WiFi, free wired Internet, and LCD TVs.
Room AmenitiesInformation missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
LiVEMAX RESORT Kinugawa
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
The hotel offers a restaurant. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. LiVEMAX RESORT Kinugawa features hot springs and a fitness center. This business-friendly hotel also offers tour/ticket assistance, an arcade/game room, and a garden. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
- Arcade/game room
- Total number of rooms - 26
- Number of floors - 4
- Elevator/lift
- Fitness facilities
- Billiards or pool table
- Grocery/convenience store
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- One meeting room
- Garden
- Luggage storage
- Restaurant
- Free self parking
- Television in common areas
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Grocery/convenience store
- Arcade/game room
- Refrigerator
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Pay movies
- Premium bedding
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Hair dryer
- Bidet
- Slippers
- Shower only
- Desk
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Free WiFi
- Free wired high-speed Internet
Where to Eat
LiVEMAX RESORT Kinugawa has a restaurant on site.
Nearby Things to Do
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Hot springs on site
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-in time ends at 8 PM
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
No rollaway/extra beds available
No cribs (infant beds) available
Hotel Name
- Livemax Kinugawa
- Livemax Kinugawa Nikko
- Livemax Resort Kinugawa
- Livemax Resort Kinugawa Nikko
We should mention
The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare requires all international visitors to submit their passport number and nationality when registering at any lodging facility (inns, hotels, motels, etc. ). Additionally, lodging proprietors are required to photocopy passports for all registering guests and keep the photocopy on file.