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By GEORGE ROBERTSON, M.D.
Seeing the wilted flowers after the last killing frost brought a touch of sadness as I surveyed the garden and yard. I had heard that the cold weather was coming and at the same time I knew I couldn't protect those sensitive plants indefinitely. Even if I covered them tonight, what about tomorrow night and the night after that? Sooner or later I would have to give them up to the inevitable consequences of winter.
The killing frost had nipped the young buds of my winter squash vines. It had put an end to the growing season and stopped even the cold weather crops in their tracks. The Impatiens growing by the front walk were now a lifeless crumple of faded green. The herbs growing in the backyard were beat down but surviving. The influence of the frost was broad reaching and final.
But there were some good consequences of the killing freeze. It meant that I would not have to mow the grass again until spring. It also put the finishing touches on the leaves that were increasing their beautiful colors along the roadside. The maple trees lining my neighbor's yard were now a deeper orange and yellow as the last sap drained from them and the green chlorophyll gave way to the other colors beneath.
The weed patch by the mailbox now was becoming brittle so that my weed sling (my low-tech energy-saving answer to the bush hog) could now chop off the once thick green cover to turn it into a bear area again. I could slice through the weeds and identify the egg cases of the praying mantis insect and expose the old moss undergrowth of the surface roots below.
The seed pod of the milkweed would now pop open releasing its promise of new life in the form of a parachute into the wind, helping me to reaffirm that even in the cold and darkness of death there is the hope of new life. So even as the leaves on the oak trees were becoming brown and crumpled and brittle, new buds for the next year form beneath, pushing them out into the chilling wind. And I can appreciate the cycle of life that also ends in death.
Editors Note: George Robertson is a physician with Family Medical Associates, PC, in Lebanon.
To the Editor:
When I enrolled in the first grade, 65 years ago, I had to present a birth certificate. My parents used my hospital birth certificate which contained my name, birth date, feet prints, the names of my parents and their place of birth, my mothers finger print and the place of my birth. It also had a large, embossed gold seal and several signatures.
I used that same birth certificate when registering for my Social Security number, applied for a driver license, registered for the draft, registered for college admission, bought life insurance, applied for a marriage license, registered to vote and for everything else that needed proof of birth and citizenship.A few years ago the laws changed. When I applied for a passport, I was told I had to provide a state certified birth certificate and a picture. The U.S. and state government would no longer accept my voters registration card. They would not take my hospital birth certificate. I had to pay $10 to the state where I was born to get a certified copy. When my wife and I applied for Social Security and Medicate benefits, we had to present photo ID and state certified birth certificates.
Just released January data collected by the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) reveal impressive results for Tennessee in blocking unlawful sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE) at the sales counter.
Sponsors of the law are touting the results as proof Tennessee is at the forefront of the fight against meth.
NPLEx uses real-time, stop-sale technology to block PSE sales. NPLEx data also provides law enforcement officials with valuable data to assist in the apprehension of methamphetamine criminals. PSE, the active ingredient in many safe and effective medicines that treat common cold and allergy symptomsmedicines like Advil Cold & Sinus, Claritin-D, and Sudafed is also used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
In just one short month since the NPLEx was fully implemented in Tennessee, the electronic system has successfully blocked the sale of more than 4,993 illegal boxes of PSE, keeping more than 13,000 grams off of Tennessee streets.The system blocked 71 illegal boxes and kept 194 grams off the streets in Wilson County.
The NPLEx system also incorporates the newly instituted Tennessee Meth Offender Registry, a database which contains the names of 2,354 individuals who, due to previous meth-related offenses, are not permitted to purchase medicines containing PSE. In January, the NPLEx system kept 111 of those offenders from making 222 PSE purchases.
The NPLEx system was a key component of the multifaceted anti-meth bill sponsored by Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, and was co-sponsored by Reps. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, and Linda Elam, R-Mt. Juliet.
These numbers show that NPLEx is working to stop meth crimes before they happen, Beavers said. Not only does the electronic technology help law enforcement identify criminals, it also allows law-abiding Tennesseans to continue to purchase safe and effective cold and allergy medicines without a prescription.
NPLEx has blocked a large amount of illegal pseudoephedrine sales in its first month of implementation, Pody said. It is a valuable tool to track down the criminals who are manufacturing meth in Tennessee, while providing access to pseudoephedrine to allergy sufferers. I am very hopeful that this new law will continue to block sales to those who use this drug illegally for meth.
This bill takes a large step forward in addressing the problem of meth on the front end, before it has the opportunity to ruin the lives of those who use it or are exposed to it, Elam said. I hope we continue to see success with stopping meth as illegal manufacturers are added to the Registry.
Tennessee is one of 17 states that currently use NPLEx, which works across state lines, and tracks and stops illegal sales when the purchaser has exceeded his or her legal limit. As part of the comprehensive anti-meth bill, the law also:Increases the penalty for making meth in the presence of children; Makes it easier to prosecute those who purchase medicines containing PSE at different times and places for the purpose of exceeding the allowable amount, or through use of false identification; and Imposes minimum mandatory fines on those offenders.
Gov. Bill Haslams Administration also provided an additional $750,000 in state appropriations to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and $280,000 in federal Byrne JAG grant funds from the state Office of Criminal Justice Programs available to the TBI.
By PATRICK HALL
The Wilson Post
District 23 Wilson County Commissioner Bernie Ash was named the new County Director of Veterans Services Thursday morning after a hiring panels first choice, David Roberts, declined to take the position.
Ash said he was very honored to take the position and noted he will hit the ground running and work with Carol Dedman, assistant service officer, to get up to speed on how the office operates.
The first thing Ash said he would do was extend the office hours currently set at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., to 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. instead, giving veterans who work a chance to come in later in the day and still receive assistance.
The door is always open, Ash said.
Ash said he would be attending the meetings of local veterans groups and noted he already attends the Vietnam Veterans of America meetings, but said he will try to arrange the Wilson County Budget Committee meetings so that he may attend other veterans groups meetings.
I want you to know I will be out working in the community, Ash said, referring to spreading the word about the Veterans Services Office and making sure veterans get the benefits they deserve.
While Ash was named the new Director, Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto pointed out he was not the first choice. During the process, the hiring committee of Hutto, County Human Resources Director Alanna Sullivan and three veterans, chose Roberts to be the new director.
We selected, unanimously, David Roberts, but he turned me down, Hutto said.
Roberts came to the announcement and spoke to the veterans in attendance. During interviews on Jan. 12, veterans who attended had the chance to vote on which candidate they would prefer be given the position. Hutto said Roberts received the largest number of votes from the veterans.
An opportunity had come up for me to start my own business and run it from home, Roberts said.
He explained the opportunity to run his own business and spend more time with his wife and children was one he could not pass up. Robert thanked the veterans who voted for him and the hiring committee for selecting him and apologized for pulling out so late.
Roberts offered his design for a Veterans Services office logo to the county if they choose to use it and said when the new veterans museum opens, he has a lot of equipment, uniforms and items to donate.
Hutto said when Roberts declined, he had the option to either open the process back up again or ask the committee if they had a second choice. While discussing it with the committee, Hutto said Ash received the second-highest number of votes from veterans during the January interviews.
All but one said I think the second choice would be Bernie Ash, your second vote was Bernie Ash, Hutto told veterans in attendance Thursday.
Hutto said there were several tasks he hopes Ash will take up in the new position, including overseeing the construction of the Veterans Park and museum that is currently being designed by a group of local architects.
Hutto wanted Ash to give a quarterly report to the commission and to local veterans, create an email database to get information out to local veterans quicker and easier, and create a calendar of events each month so veterans know what is happening in their community.
I asked him to make a commercial to show whats going on with Veterans Services, Hutto said, pointing out that can be done for free with both major local cable providers.
While Ash serves as a county commissioner, Hutto said he spoke with County Attorney Mike Jennings about a possible conflict of interest. He said Jennings didnt see a problem with Ash holding the two positions, but would remain on the issue in case a conflict developed.
There are several county employees serving on the commission, ranging from Wilson County Sheriffs deputies to Public Safety Officers and teachers. When voting on matters that affect those county employees directly, each has to take an oath that they are aware of a conflict of interest and promise to vote as an impartial representative of their district.
A veteran in attendance asked Ash if a conflict arose, which position would he resign. I would give up the commission position, no question about it, Ash said.
Staff Writer Patrick Hall may be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com.
By PATRICK HALL
The Wilson Post
Months after Tuckers Crossroads Elementary School postponed a fall festival, reportedly due to security concerns regarding a parent identified as Jackie Shook, she has recently filed two civil warrants in the Wilson County General Sessions Court against the schools Student Resource Officer and another parent.
The latest complaints filed on Jan. 13 and Feb. 1 follow several others filed with the Wilson County Sheriffs Department in 2011 regarding Shook allegedly videotaping and photographing another parent and her child on school property.
One warrant alleged that TXR SRO Pete Mecher has filed false police reports about Shook, followed and intimidated her child at school, making the child cry as well as yelling and throwing his hands in air when he was asked to write down what another student said to the child in class.
In July 2011, Wilson County Schools Director of Safety David Burton sent a letter to Shook that barred her from coming onto campus. The letter was later changed to allow her to come onto campus in order to pick up and drop off her child. Mecher filed a report in October 2011 stating Shook entered the school building to pick up her child, although she was neither arrested nor charged.
Mecher also was involved in a report filed by Shook in September 2011 that claimed her daughter was nearly struck by a vehicle in the school parking lot, insinuating that it was not an accident because of her history at the school. In the report, Mecher said the child was not in danger of being hit by the vehicle.
The civil warrant filed against Mecher is for $25,000 plus court costs and medical bills. Mecher received a summons on Feb. 1 and was moved from TXR on Feb. 2 to another school.
Wilson County Director of Schools Mike Davis said the move of Mecher was possibly linked to the situation, but noted the SROs are placed in schools and overseen by the Sheriffs Department. Sheriff Terry Ashe referred all questions to County Attorney Mike Jennings.
On Feb. 3, a parent and teacher at TXR, Tammy Barrett, sent an email to Ashe issuing her support of Mecher, and noted the schools students and staff are disappointed with the move. Barrett said the teachers and students trust Mecher, and her child was saddened that he was moved.
He is a vital part of our community and knows our families and supports them as well as our teachers, Barrett wrote. I do hope that this is a temporary move and that he will return to TXR soon because we all love, trust and respect him.
In his reply, Ashe wrote that Mechers transfer was in no way a disciplinary action and that he stands beside and behind Mecher 100 percent. Ashe indicated he has had many conversations with Davis on this issue and said, the system has failed miserably.
This issue is a civil matter and until the school system files a restraining order on any parent, for any disruption of our school system, my hands are tied, Ashe wrote to Barrett.
Shook also filed a civil warrant on Jan. 13 against Ashley Davis, another parent at TXR, claiming Davis filed a false police report against her and is claiming Davis caused punitive damages, defamation of character. The warrant is for $25,000 plus court costs of approximately $162.
John Meadows of the Law Offices of Hugh Green, who is representing Davis in this case, said the suit is a very questionable lawsuit. He noted that Davis is expecting the claims to be dismissed in court.
In October 2011, Davis filed a complaint with the Sheriffs Department stating Shook was videotaping and photographing her and her son on several occasions as they were exiting the school building.
Allen Woods, attorney with the Law Offices of Woods & Woods in Nashville, who represents Shook, has previously said those allegations were false. However, Woods noted Thursday that he is not representing Shook in this civil case.
Jennings said that Shook had made several bullying complaints with the school administration, indicating her child was being bullied, but Jennings said the school investigated those claims and found them to be without merit.
Jennings said the Wilson County Board of Education has authorized him to take any legal action that can resolve the issue.
I have issued her a letter that says she is not to come onto campus at any time for any reason except to drop off and pick up her child and she is not allowed to exit her vehicle or have any contact with anybody, parents, teachers or administration, Jennings said.
He said the letter was sent on Wednesday but he was not sure she received it by Thursday. Jennings noted the Sheriffs Department had deputies at the school with a copy of the letter to hand-deliver if Shook came onto campus this morning.
Both civil warrants filed by Shook are to be heard in court on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 9 a.m. In the meantime, Jennings said the Sheriffs Department has assigned a different SRO at TXR.
Staff Writer Patrick Hall may be contacted at email@example.com.
From Post staff reports
A local man who with others was the developer of the Hotel Indigo in downtown Nashville has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering as it pertains to his former ownership of the business.
Mark Lineberry, a resident of Mt. Juliet and also an attorney, and Delaina Thompson, his partner in a company called 1st Trust Title of Mt. Juliet, are both charged in the indictment that was filed on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
The indictment from the federal grand jury alleges that Lineberry and Thompson committed $9.25 million in fraud.
It alleges also that the two, operating as 1st Trust, said payments were being made as required on a loan and into escrow which the grand jury says did not occur. The loan was made by Branch Banking and Trust Company, better known as BB&T.
The indictment by the federal grand jury grew out of a disagreement that began in 2010 when officials with BB&T and Federal National Title Insurance claimed that Hotel Indigo and 1st Trust were combining assets and not paying the money to lenders and insurers that was due.
BB&T officials have said since the disagreement began that they had no knowledge of Lineberrys relationship with the hotel and 1st Trust.
The indictment also alleges that Lineberry, through Thompson, tried to obtain loans from BB&T by saying that Hotel Indigos title was free of any liens or other encumbrances.
The grand jury is asking for forfeiture of property and the $9.25 million that allegedly resulted from the 12 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering charges from both Lineberry and Thompson.
Lineberry is also involved in a civil lawsuit filed against him by his partner in the downtown Nashville Hotel Indigo, Keith Worsham. The company they founded, called 315 Union Street Holdings, filed for bankruptcy in December 2010. A company out of North Carolina, Winston Hospitality, purchased the hotel in the fall of 2011.
By SAM HATCHER
The Wilson Post
Living a dream in a field of dreams was a Lebanon man only days ago when he traveled to Orlando, Fla., to play baseball with some of the game's most revered living legends.
Glen Butler for a week rubbed shoulders with, threw pitches to, and batted against some the very best alumni of the Atlanta Braves organization in what was billed as a Braves Fantasy Camp.Butler and some 59 others took a week out their ho-hum schedules at home to don baseball uniforms and play the game that's usually reserved for "the boys of summer."
From Post staff reports
Two Lebanon men were arrested in Mt. Juliet on Wednesday, Feb. 8, for theft after a Mt. Juliet Police Department patrol officer reportedly caught them in the act while checking a business early that morning.
Tywan Easley, 32, and Davis Kelly, 36, of Lebanon, were allegedly in the process of stealing scrap metal from one of the storage containers behind the Industrial Tool and Stamping business at 300 Industrial Drive.
Officer Lance Schneider with the MJPD was patrolling the industrial area and noticed a suspicious-looking pickup truck parked behind the business around 2 a.m., Wednesday.
He made contact with the two male occupants of the vehicle and reportedly noticed that there was scrap metal in the rear bed of the truck. One of the occupants allegedly said the business owner gave them permission to be there.
Schneider contacted the owner and confirmed the two suspects did not have permission to be on the property. The value of the stolen material was estimated to be more than $1,000.
Easley and Kelly were each arrested on one count of Theft of Property and booked into the Wilson County Jail. Both Easley and Kelly were released on bond Wednesday.
JACKSON, MS -- Belhaven scored four unearned runs on three errors and the 15th-ranked Blazers posted a 5-2 victory over No. 7 Cumberland on Thursday in baseball action at Smith-Wills Stadium.
Belhaven (6-2) scored twice in the fifth and then two more times in the sixth, all unearned, against CU starter Keith Kirby and added a run in the eighth. The Bulldogs (2-2) managed just seven hits against three BU hurlers but stranded 12 runners, unable to take advantage of six walks.
Nick Sydnor and Daniel Harrison each drove in runs in a two-run third inning for CU, which also took advantage of a two-out error by the Blazers.
Kirby (1-1) scattered nine hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five in six innings to take the hard-luck loss. A dropped throw at first base after a strikeout started the first rally for Belhaven and a bunt single and then a fielding error at second base began the other.
Joshua Boldin went 4-for-4 for BU, including a two-strike, two-out, two-run single to rightcenter in the sixth that put the Blazers ahead for good.
Geoffrey Thomas allowed two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out seven in 5.2 innings for Belhaven. Jon Patino (1-0) worked 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for the win and Josh Clarke tossed one inning for his second save.
In the third inning Sam Lind reached on a throwing error by Bud Britt and Mike Mandarino followed with a single. Sydnor and Harrison had back-to-back RBI singles for a 2-0 CU advantage.
Kirby struck out Hamilton Harper with one out in the fifth but Mandarino dropped the throw to first. Bouldin then singled and Kirby induced a ground ball from Tyler Wrinkle, but he beat the relay throw to keep the inning alive.
With runners on the corners Anthony Doss singled to rightfield, scoring one run, and the throw to third got away from Harrison, allowing Wrinkle to tie the game at two.
Ryne Cook bunted his way on with one out in the Belhaven sixth before Lind booted a grounder near the bag that could have been a doubleplay. Jason Hicks loaded the bases with an infield single before Kirby struck out pinch-hitter Jonathan Thompson, but Bouldin laced an 0-2 pitch into rightcenter for a two-run single.
Wrinkles sacrifice fly in the eighth gave the Blazers a 5-2 lead.
Cumberland takes on sixth-ranked LSU-Shreveport at 11 a.m. on Friday and No. 21 Southern Poly at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. Courtney Atkinson led three players in double figures with 19 points as Cumberland hung on for a 56-51 victory Thursday night at Blue Mountain College in womens basketball action.
The Bulldogs (11-12, 6-5 TranSouth) did little right in the first half, committing nine turnovers and shooting just 25 percent (7-of-28) from the field. CU went almost 12 minutes without a field goal at one point during the period, with Tasia Blues layup with 2:50 remaining ending the drought. Cumberland hit four free throws for its only points during the stretch.
It looked to be much the same to start the second half, as BMCs Jessi Hayles nailed two straight 3-pointers to begin the period, prompting a timeout from CU head coach Jeremy Lewis. The Bulldogs responded with a 13-2 spurt to tie the game at 32 and finally took their first lead of the game at 36-35 with a bucket by Jessica Pace.
The teams went back-and-forth the rest of the game, with nine lead changes and neither team leading by more than four points until the final minute of the game. Hayles kept the Toppers (3-19, 0-11) in the game with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, but Atkinson and Pace continued to make baskets and Casie Cowan added two big trifectas, the final one with 1:52 to play that gave CU a 54-49 lead.
Samantha Burns drove for a layup for Blue Mountain and the Bulldogs missed a jumper on the next trip down the floor, giving the home team a chance to tie. But Amber Johnsons 3-pointer was well off the mark and after a foul, Atkinson broke free for a final layup and CUs sixth win in the last seven games.
Samantha Harper provided some much-needed energy off the bench for Cumberland, especially, in the second half, and led the club with seven rebounds. Cowan finished with 12 points, 10 in the second half, and Pace grabbed six boards.
Hayles led the Toppers with 19 points and Shaquinta Robinson posted 11.
Cumberland hosts rival Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the second game of a stretch where the Bulldogs will play five games in 10 days.
Mt. Juliet High softball infielders Brittney Graves and Tori Barrett signed college scholarship papers Friday afternoon in ceremonies at the MJHS library.
Graves signed with NAIA school Lindsey Wilson of Columbia, KY while Barrett inked with Galveston Junior College, TX.
Both are seniors on the 2012 Lady Bear softball team.
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Imagining realistic resolutions for a fit New Year
By Dorene Internicola
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Have you already begun to fret over keeping that looming New Year's resolution to shape up in the coming months?
Experts say while wishing will not make it so, visualizing your trimmer, fitter self can help to set you on the right path.
"Visualize your success," advises fitness and wellness instructor Shirley Archer. "Imagine a perfect day where you are at fitness level that you want. How would you look and feel and what would you be able to do easily if you enjoyed your ideal fitness?"
Then, said Archer, the author of "Fitness 9 to 5," get to work on specific goals.
"The typical mistake is being too vague and too large," she said. "Instead of 'I want to lose weight,' say, 'I will walk 10 minutes Monday through Friday.' And don't make those goals harder until you've achieved the easier ones."
Big goals are fine, Archer believes, as long as you break them down, and learn from, and forgive, your inevitable backslides.
"Ask yourself why you did that but be emotionally neutral," said Archer. "Get rid of that self-critic."
She calls it training from the inside out, and admits it's easier said than done. Continued...

subset: commoncrawl


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Baysangurov injured; Andrade fight is canceled
WBO junior middleweight champ Zaurbek Baysangurov has been injured during his training camp at the Summit Gym in Big Bear, California and will not be able to defend his title on July 6th in Kiev, Ukraine. "I am very disappointed. My back betrayed me again. Formerly I had to reschedule the fight with Konecny for the same reason. Though I have never been training this hard and am in the best shape ever, the pain does not allow me to go on training and I have to submit the cancelation. But I promise to all of the fans that I will be back very soon," said Baysangurov.
"It is very bad and unexpected news for us. This show was intended to become the real sensation. We won the purse bids with the considerable amount, prepared a "cool" undercard, plenty of tickets were purchased, the TV rights were sold to 30 countries. But we have to cancel the show and I feel sad about that. It happens in boxing sometimes. I hope Zaur will recover soon and will be able to return to the ring already this year," said Alexander Krassyuk, Baysangurov's promoter (K2 Promotions Ukraine).


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April 20, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team capped the 2011-12 season by recognizing the senior class and team members on Thursday (April 19) during the annual postseason banquet at the Jack Roth Stadium Club inside Michigan Stadium. The evening was highlighted by the top 10 moments of the season, including the team's selection to the NCAA Tournament after an 11-year absence.
Junior Rachel Sheffer (Watervliet, Mich./Watervliet) was named Most Valuable Player after finishing the season as the Wolverines' leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points per game. Sheffer also received All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention by the media and league coaches.
Sheffer also shared the Take-Charge Award with senior co-captain Courtney Boylan (Chaska, Minn./Chaska) and junior Jenny Ryan (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central). The award, in its first year, is presented to the athlete that draws an offensive foul that was deemed a game-changing play.
For a consecutive season, Ryan took home the Academic Excellence, Best Defensive, and Hustle awards. Ryan led the Big Ten in steals with 98 (3.1 per game) and was selected to the league's All-Defensive Team. She also garnered Capital One Academic All-District honors selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) earlier this year. She led the Wolverines in rebounds (6.4 rpg), assists (4.1 apg) and minutes played (34.8 per game).
Boylan grabbed the inaugural 212° Award, symbolic of water's boiling point in Fahrenheit. The award is bestowed to the player who provided energy on the floor which was an integral part of team's success. Boylan was noted for sparking Michigan's energy throughout the season. She finished second on the team in scoring (12.7 ppg) and opened the season as the Big Ten Player of the Week (Nov. 11).
Senior co-captain Carmen Reynolds (Hilliard, Ohio/Davidison) and junior Kate Thompson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) shared the Best Teammate Award as voted on by the players. Reynolds also received the game ball for surpassing 1,000 career points when Michigan defeated Illinois, 70-50, on Dec. 30. Reynolds is the fourth player to reach the 1,000-point plateau in as many seasons, capping her career with 1,167 points to rank 13th in school history.
To round out the celebration, Kendra Seto (Oshawa, Ontario/C.V.I Eastdale) received the Victory Hoops Club Award and freshman Cyesha Goree (Grand Rapids, Mich./Wyoming Park) was acknowledged with the Most Improved Player Award.
Most Valuable Player Award: Rachel Sheffer
Best Defensive Award: Jenny Ryan
Hustle Award: Jenny Ryan
Academic Excellence Award: Jenny Ryan
Most Improved Player Award: Cyesha Goree
Victory Hoops Club Award: Kendra Seto
Graduating Managers: P.J. Wascher
*Samantha Provenzano Perseverance Award: Chuck Raab (long time supporter)
*Best Teammate Award: Carmen Reynolds and Kate Thompson
*Take-Charge Award: Courtney Boylan, Rachel Sheffer and Jenny Ryan
*212 (Degrees) Award: Courtney Boylan
* denotes first-year awards
Contact: Zena Lewis (734) 763-4423
» Learn about Michigan women's basketball season tickets for the 2017-18 season.


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"We're seeing more and more multimedia campaigns and bigger ideas that can work with multiple touch points," said Christina Yu, vice president, creative director of Lowe Roche in Toronto, Canada.
The best method for presenting these bigger ideas to a jury, however, is still evolving. "There should be a cash award for the agency that figures out how to present its integrated and interactive work in less than two minutes," said Mike Hughes, president and creative director at The Martin Agency in Richmond, Virginia. "Too often, it's hard to understand the point of the work and the focus of the idea."
About this year's entries, "It was a weak year for television," said Mark Gross, senior vice president, group creative director at DDB Chicago, Illinois. "Skittles notwithstanding, no television blew
me away or left me ultra-inspired. New media might be stealing TV's thunder."
Rob Rich, executive vice president, executive creative director at Publicis in the West in Seattle, Washington, disagreed. "So many people have proclaimed the death of television. It's just not true. New media options have given the broadcast media some much-needed competition. There's pressure on TV spots to be more engaging and more entertaining than ever before. This is good."
When asked what was new, Julie Bowman, group creative director at TracyLocke in Dallas, Texas, was succinct; "The Ray-Ban online video—cool execution. The 'Free Hugs' spot from BETC Euro RSCG made me cry." "I absolutely loved the All Blacks poster," Gross added. "It was a fantastic original idea."
While several jurors mentioned the increase in online videos, Bowman found many were rife with self-indulgent editing. "Everything is the director's cut times ten, and the lack of discipline really hurts the storytelling," she said.
"Advertising is going to become less sell and more experiential." —Mark Gross
Also new this year, "More and more agencies are getting involved with product development for their clients," said Brian Kroening executive creative director, senior vice president BBDO Minneapolis.
Where are we headed in the future? Benjamin Vendramin, senior vice president, group creative director at McCann Erickson, New York, said, "More and more dollars are moving towards the Web, but results will ultimately be what creates the momentum behind the dollars being spent." "Social networking will change over the next several years, which will make us create work that's more targeted than we could have ever imagined," Rich added.
Several jurors also mentioned the rise of the fully integrated agency, but Hughes feels that only a half-dozen agencies are currently doing media-neutral planning and creative executions correctly. "It's amazing that, in 2007, a lot of shops still seem to be completely built around the 1992 media model," he said.
"Creative people are now able to express themselves in an infinite array of media," Kroening concluded. "The only caution is that you still need to start with an idea."
As in previous years, we employed a two-step jurying system, screening and finals. Due to increasing time constraints, the judges screened much of the radio commercials and online advertising in their own offices prior to arriving in Menlo Park.
"Gaming and social networking have yet to make their true impact." —Benjamin Vendramin
In our office, they worked in teams of three (Jean Coyne acted as the ninth screening juror due to a last-minute cancellation), screening a third of the television, print and projected entries in one of three halls equipped with broadcast equipment and six rows of tables for print. Print entries were spread out on the tables by category and each juror reviewed the entries independently. Any juror could put an entry into the next round by handing it to a member of our staff. Television, radio, integrated and digital entries were screened by checking an "in" or "out" box on scoring sheets.
After all the entries were screened, we combined the selections from the three teams for finals. During the finals, all eight judges worked as a single team. In one hall, print entries were spread out on tables by category. Two paper cups, one white and one red, with slots cut in the bottom, were placed upside down to the right of each entry, white cups for "in" votes, red cups for "out." Each juror voted by placing a different colored ceramic tile into the appropriate cup. A check of the tile colors ensured that every judge voted on every single piece.
After all the jurors were finished voting on the print setup, they moved to another hall for a final session of TV, radio, projected images or integrated campaigns. Online advertising was judged on a bank of computers in another location in our office. Again voting was done by each juror checking the "in" or "out" column on the scoring sheets.
Judges were not permitted to vote on projects they were directly involved in. When judges' pieces were in the finals, Jean or I voted in their stead.
I would like to extend our grateful appreciation to our jurors for their conscientious efforts in selecting our 48th annual exhibition. —Patrick Coyne ca
group creative director
Julie Bowman is a writer, group creative director at TracyLocke in Dallas, Texas. Bowman has over fifteen years experience, most at DDB Dallas until the recent merger with TracyLocke. Her efforts have helped shape accounts like Tabasco, Texas Lottery, Susan G Komen For the Cure, 7-Eleven and more. Bowman has been a member of various mediocre bands, performed stand-up and improv and has, for a ridiculously long time now, been writing a one-woman show. She and her husband, Todd, live in a house they've been renovating themselves, but whose completion is evidently a sign of the apocalypse. If it ever actually gets finished, the world will end. Her work has been seen in Archive, Athena Awards, Cannes, Communication Arts, the Kelly Awards and others.
creative director
Apple Inc.,
Mimi Cook is a creative director at Apple Inc. located in Cupertino, California. Prior to Apple and the iPhone, Cook worked at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Hal Riney & Partners, Foote, Cone & Belding and Chiat/Day. She's written about beer, wine, airplanes, cars, fashion and an electric toothbrush that performs 31,000 brush-strokes per minute. In addition to being recognized by Cannes, Communication Arts, the Clios, D&AD and The One Show, her work was featured as one of the 50 Best TV Commercials in 50 Years of Advertising by Ad Age, which also honored her as A Woman to Watch. In her spare time, Cook runs the hills of Berkeley, California, tortures her garden, and writes poems about her daughters
senior vice president, group creative director
DDB Chicago
Mark Gross is senior vice president, group creative director at DDB Chicago, Illinois. At DDB, Gross has risen from art director to group creative director creating campaigns for the agency's premiere account, Anheuser-Busch. His most notable work is the Bud Light Real Men of Genius campaign, now known for being the most awarded radio campaign in advertising history. His work has been honored by the ANDYs, Art Directors Club, Clios, Cannes, Communication Arts, D&AD, Kinsale Awards, New York Festivals, The One Show, the Radio Mercury Awards and two Grand Prix Radio Lions. With a BFA in advertising design from Syracuse University, Gross began his career in 1990 in New York City designing movie titles and logos for R. Greenberg Associates. He spends his spare time flying a Cessna, running, cooking, painting and spend-ing time with his wife and two children.
president, creative director
The Martin Agency
Mike Hughes is president, creative director at The Martin Agency in Richmond, Virginia. Adweek has called Hughes one of the nine best creative directors in America. Ad Age, on the other hand, has listed The Martin Agency as one of the three best creative agencies in the world. "Which proves," Hughes says, continued on page 152 "that the rest of the agency is a lot better than I am." Here's what Hughes says about their work: "I want us to be known for two things: outstanding strategic ideas and brilliant creative executions. One of the reasons this is such an exciting time to be in this business is that those ideas and executions aren't limited to traditional media ads." In 2000, the oldest governing body in the Western Hemisphere, the Virginia General Assembly, named Hughes and his partner, John Adams, the Outstanding Industrialists of the Year. Hughes's wife, Ginny, teases him a lot about that last title.
senior vice president and creative director
Brian Kroening was senior vice president and creative director at Olson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the time of the judging. Now, BBDO Minneapolis has added him to their roster as executive creative director, senior vice president. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Kroening moved to Minneapolis in 1988 for a job with Campbell Mithun. For the next nine years he worked on CM clients including Andersen Windows, General Mills and Healthy Choice. He moved to Carmichael Lynch as a senior art director in 1997. Kroening's clients at CL included American Standard, Formica, Polaris Watercraft and Gibson Guitars. An accomplished guitarist, Kroening's playing was featured in a Gibson TV commercial. Olson recruited Kroening in 2004 as executive creative director and he helped build a client roster that included Nike Bauer Hockey and PBS.
executive vice president, executive creative director
Rob Rich is the executive vice president, executive creative director at Publicis in the West in Seattle, Washington. Rich worked at many creative boutiques on the east coast before moving to Mullen. A few years later he traveled west to join Publicis. "It was the first agency that seemed ready to stop being an ad agency and start becoming a media agnostic creative shop." As ECD, Rob manages the office, oversees the creative department, while still carving out time to create work. "When you only manage, you can lose touch with the industry and your creative teams." Rich's work has been recognized by every major award show from Cannes, Communication Arts, Clios and The One Show, but accolades from outside the industry equally fire him up. "We love when our work becomes part of culture: watching Jay Leno do a comedy bit based on our T-Mobile spots or having our work displayed in the permanent film collection at the Museum of Modern Art."
senior vice president, group creative director
McCann Erickson
Benjamin Vendramin is senior vice president, group creative director at McCann Erickson, New York. Before joining McCann a year ago, he ran his own agency, Goodgoll Vendramin, in his native Toronto. Prior to that he was co-creative director of TBWA\Chiat\Day. A graduate of Ontario College of Art & Design, he began his career as an art director at J. Walter Thompson, first in Toronto and then in New York City. He returned to his hometown to work for TAXI Advertising and, in 2006, was lured back again, to New York. His work has been recognized by all the major award shows including Cannes, Communication Arts and The One Show. Vendramin enjoys balancing his passion for creative with his passion for his family, his wife Susan and their nine-year-old daughter, Isabella.
vice-president, creative director
Lowe Roche
Christina Yu is vice-president, creative director at Lowe Roche in Toronto, Canada. Yu started her career as an art director at TAXI, where she created memorable campaigns for FLOW 93.5, The Movie Network and Williams-Sonoma. She then joined BBDO, where she was promoted to vice president, creative director after producing award-winning work on brands including FedEx, 7Up and Pepsi. In 2005, she joined Lowe Roche as vice president, creative director. She has been instrumental in exploring new ways to connect with consumers, such as social networks, digital media and CRM. During the course of her career, she has won over 100 major advertising awards, including Cannes, Communication Arts, D&AD and The One Show. In her spare time, she enjoys lavishing attention on her puppy, Ralph, and obsessing over her home renovation.


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This morning while we were goose hunting we had two men and two boys come in on the next property and set up to hunt geese. The property is posted and everyone from the area knows that "NOBODY" is allowed to hunt waterfowl there. I walked over and talked to the one guy. I remained calm and was nice about it. I told him that it's posted property and "NOBODY" is allowed to hunt waterfowl. He insisted he was. So I called and reported them to the landowner. They came and made them leave. Next thing I know the guys are up at another posted farm jump shooting the geese off of a pond.
Such a shame that these guys are teaching those kids the wrong way!


text:
Bar Stool Barrage
A quick Googling of "bar stool" reveals that nobody can agree if it's one word or two. Amazon does one word, but stool experts Crate & Barrel choose to separate them. We had a quick discussion in the writers' room and decided that "barstool" just looks too funny.
Ends on October 25 at 9AM CT


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Miners are wearing new "micro-wireless" monitoring tags in 30 West Virginia mines in order to comply with new safety regulations from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The devices -- developed by Axcess International Inc., a manufacturer of wireless monitoring products, and Tunnel Radio of America Inc. -- are designed to track the location of individual miners in order to aid rescue operations in case of an accident. The tags transmit in the 315 to 433 MHz band, which Allan Griebenow, president and CEO of Axcess International, said is more robust than Wi-Fi transmitting at 2.4 GHz.
"The tag is connected directly to the side of the helmet, and it technically can be worn in the pocket or even provided around a lanyard as an ID," Griebenow said.
The safety rule, effective mid-year 2009, was prompted by the tragic Sago mine disaster in Upshur County, W. Va., on June 2, 2006. Twelve miners suffocated there after being trapped by an underground explosion. Investigators faulted the slow rescue effort, miscommunication -- family members of the killed miners were mistakenly told they were alive -- and first responders' inability to notify the trapped miners that a rescue attempt was under way.
In the wake of that tragedy, President George W. Bush signed The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, which amended the 1977 Mine Safety and Health Act to require that mine operators implement post-accident rescue plans and provide their miners with wireless tracking systems, among other improvements.
View Full Story


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Virgo (software)
|The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guidelines for products and services. (November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|Eclipse Foundation, SpringSource
|Stable release
3.7.0.RELEASE[1] / March 10, 2017
|Development status
|Written in
|Operating system
|Application server
|GPL license, to the Eclipse Public License
Virgo is an open source, OSGi-based, Java application server originally developed as SpringSource dm Server by SpringSource and currently maintained by the Eclipse Foundation.[2][3] SpringSource is now a division of VMware. Virgo supports the deployment of OSGi bundles and unmodified Java web applications as well as OSGi-influenced Shared Libraries WARs and Shared Services WARs.[4]
Virgo is based on the Equinox OSGi implementation, part of the Eclipse project; the Apache Tomcat servlet container; The Spring Framework; and Spring Dynamic Modules for OSGi Service Platforms. Virgo is licensed using the Eclipse Public License.
The SpringSource dm Server was originally announced as the SpringSource Application Platform on April 30, 2008.[5] Version 1.0 of the SpringSource dm Server was released September 30, 2008.[6] Version 2.0 was released January 12, 2010.[7]
SpringSource donated dm Server to Eclipse as the Virgo project later in 2010.[8]
Feature summary[edit]
- Web admin console - deploy and manage artifacts, examine diagnostic dumps, and explore bundle wiring, either in a live system or offline following a resolution failure
- Gogo shell - manage Virgo and deployed artifacts using a command line shell accessed via ssh or telnet
- Plans - define the artifacts that comprise an application, optionally making the application atomic to tie the artifact lifecycles together, and scoped to isolate the application from other applications
- Provisioning - automatically supply the dependencies of an application including bundles, plans, plan archives (PARs), and configurations, from both local and remote repositories
- Web container - supports vanilla WAR files, with all their dependencies in WEB-INF/lib, and Web Application Bundles, that import their dependencies via OSGi manifest metadata, via the reference implementation of the OSGi Web Container specification, based on embedded Apache Tomcat and configured using the standard Tomcat server.xml
- User region - isolates the kernel from user-installed applications and enables administrators to focus on application artifacts and their dependencies without seeing those of the kernel as well
- Spring 3 – Virgo 3.6.2 packages Spring 3.1.0, but can easily be configured to use a different version of Spring
- Hot deployment - deploy artifacts to Virgo by copying them into the pickup directory, either in archive or exploded form, as an alternative to deploying via the admin console or shell
- Logging - via embedded LogBack with a rich set of appenders available out of the box
- JMX management, accessed via the admin console, the shell, the Virgo IDE tooling, or directly via a JMX client such as JConsole
- ^ Virgo 3.7.0.RELEASE has been shipped
- ^ SpringSource dm Server product page
- ^ Eclipse Virgo home page
- ^ Virgo Programmer Guide, section 3.1
- ^ Introducing the SpringSource Application Platform
- ^ SpringSource Announces General Availability of SpringSource dm Server
- ^ dm Server 2.0.0 released
- ^ Eclipse Virgo Released
External links[edit]
- Virgo project home page
- SpringSource dm Server product page
- "OSGi with SpringSource dm Server" training
- SpringSource dm Server community page
- Spring Dynamic Modules for OSGi Service Platforms community page
- Dynamic Enterprise Application Platform Project
- Introduction to SpringSource dm Server by Rod Johnson


text:
You will get diehard 20 ga fans that will swear to their 20.
I find the recoil to be about the same.
The cost of the shells is the same price.
With 12 ga you get more shot, more powder but the same velocity for the shot and range.
There is more shot out to catch the doves or what ever.
Did you get the "cost of shells is the same".
I have seen people with the 20 ga has less recoil for women BS.
My wife will only shoot 12 ga and has had no problem with the recoil.


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Men's Ariat® 11" Hot Iron Western Boots, Brown / Saddle Brown
Item # WX2-216111
Men's Ariat® 11" Hot Iron Western Boots, Brown / Saddle Brown
Item # WX2-216111
You May Also Like
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Guide Gear Men's Sentry 2,000 Gram Waterproof Hunting BootsBuyer's Club $35.19 Non-Member $39.09
- Details & Specs
Ariat® 11" Hot Iron Western Boots. Designed for the serious horseman, professional rider or trainer. Comfortable and stylish enough for anyone.
In 1993, Ariat® set out to make a riding boot with unrivaled comfort and performance... and boy, did they deliver. This is legitimate Western wear, the real deal for modern-day cowboys and professional riders, but way more comfortable than your average boot. And the really good news is that the same design technology that makes these the best Riding Boots you can buy, also makes them perfect for work or casual wear.
The secret is Ariat®'s exclusive ATSTM (Advanced Torque Stability) System that provides four times more lateral support and stability than traditional designs, helping to reduce fatigue and enhance comfort. They've been given the stamp of approval after being tested by top professional riders, and you'll love 'em too!
- Premium brown and saddle brown leather uppers
- Moisture-wicking footbed provides cool, dry comfort
- Gel-cushioned footbed with heel stabilizer delivers support, rebound, and stability
- Lightweight, ergonomic composite forked shank enhances stability
- Wide square toe
- High-traction Duratread outsole
- Repairable Goodyear welt construction helps elongate boot life
- 1 1 / 8 " heel height
- Each approx. 11"h., 36 ozs.
State Size and Width, as available in the Shopping Cart. Order ONLINE Today!
Brown / Saddle Brown
- Reviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Articles & Tips
Frequently Purchased Together
Western CoolMax Boot Socks, 2 PairsBuyer's Club $13.49 Non-Member $14.99
Sof Sole Athlete InsolesNon-Member $19.99
Boot & Shoe BrushBuyer's Club $17.99 Non-Member $19.99


text:
Posted: October 17, 2016
Bullying is a big problem for many children and teens, and especially for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.
Data from the 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) show that in the year before the survey:34% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students were bullied on school property 28% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students were electronically bullied, and 13% of lesbian, gay and bisexual students did not go to school because of safety concerns.
While nationally representative data are not yet available based on gender identity, we know that transgender youth often suffer ... Continue Reading
Posted: October 17, 2016
Unity Day is Wednesday, October 19. PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center started Unity Day in 2011. The purpose of Unity Day is to demonstrate that we are together against bullying. We are united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion of all students.
Get involved! Wear and share the color ORANGE on Unity Day! Join in sending one large ORANGE message of support, hope, ... Continue ReadingPosted in Prevention
Posted: October 12, 2016
Every other year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) administers the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in high schools across the U.S. In the 2015 survey, two items were included to capture sexual orientation - self-reported sexual identity and the sex of sexual contacts. The results, found here, provide current national estimates of the percentage of high school students who are gay, lesbian, and bisexual or are not sure of their sexual identity and the percentage of high school students who have had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes. In ... Continue Reading
Posted: October 6, 2016
For many students in America, bullying is a daily reality that contributes to them feeling stressed, unsafe, and distracted from learning. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, as well as Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian (MASSA) students, can be bullied based on their religion, appearance, immigration status, language skills, and more. In honor of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, we are highlighting the voice of Syeda Raza, who recounts her experience growing up Muslim in America:... Continue Reading
Posted: October 4, 2016
This month, the world comes together to raise awareness for bullying prevention and to reflect on where we have been, where we are now, and where we hope to be in the years to come. This year's Bullying Prevention Awareness Month marks the 10th anniversary of its initiation by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center. Since 2006, the event has grown to an entire month of education and awareness activities, and is being ... Continue ReadingPosted in Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention, Prevention, Profiles/Voices from the Field, Specific Groups


text:
In today's brew: David Ortlieb's loaded 2012 edit, Forest Coots in B.C. and more…
The North Face Patrol 24 ABS Backpack
Powder Mag | explores the Apennine Mountains in Italy
Chuck Mumford's Pit Viper Sunglasses | introduced by TGR and Julie Weinberger
Welcome to Valhalla | B.C. awesomeness with Forest Coots. Words via ESPN Freeskiing and video below:
David Ortlieb | 2012 Season Edit with footage from Meathead Films' "No Matter What"
Samuel Anthamatten | Profile from the Swatch Skiers Cup
Targhee backcountry tele | smooth tele turns and bluegrass with Jake Sakson and Paul Kumbrough


text:
I don't understand women who don't do their nails.
Unless it's a time issue, since I must confess
these cows were fairly time-consuming.
I think it's been three years I haven't left home with bare nails,
and two years I haven't "just" painted them in only one color.
One more deeply superficial conclusion:
so many possibilities, so easy to feel creative, pretty addictive.
Concretely: two or three manicures a week.


text:
Affordable Care Act Means Big Business For Private Vendors
Now that the full enrollment period is over, we're starting to get an idea of how the Affordable Care Act's health care exchanges are working.
The federal government gave out billions of dollars to states to help set them up. In some states that didn't exactly embrace the health law, the result is that big money is landing in the pockets of private contractors.
From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Todd Bookman of New Hampshire Public Radio reports.
- Todd Bookman, health reporter for NHPR. He tweets @bookmannhpr.
Copyright 2014 WBUR-FM. To see more, visit http://www.wbur.org.


text:
Please add me if you have any time to your servers
username : orzel541
You're added. You'll probably spawn in the creative world, instructions to go survival are on the signs
found 2 of these desert well things pretty close together
I saw that too...I was wondering if someone made them.
after destroying a forest, I got my bridge done
So that's what you were working on...interesting...lol
Oh, and my cousin's username to add to your server :
I've apparently overstepped my bounds by posting about my server here
If anyone wants to join or has questions about my server just PM me from now on.
Anyone up for a game of golf?
Going to create a world for golf, or use an existing world...I gotta think about that one. Also, I am looking into creating a world for something more rpg/mayhem like, like a zombie world or something, to change it up, we'll see!
golf should be fun! hahah I love golfing.
Well, found a massive mountain range that is pretty epic, TONS of caves, tons of ores, found one dungeon so far. Built a path to it starting from spawn. If anyone wants to build there, feel free! It'd be cool getting a little colony going on.
What's this business about two different servers now? I got on tonight in the creative for a bit, nobody was there. Is everyone in the survival one now?
Creator of the Official Vortex Minecraft Server.
Steam: BackwerdsMan
SOAR, you've been voted off the Island.


text:
Who are GFT?
GFT Markets was founded 15 years ago by Gary Tilkin, the president and chief executi ve. Based in the US, the company has grown steadily since its inception and now has eight offices worldwide, representing clients in more than 120 countries. GFT provides this client base with the opportunity to trade in a broad range of markets quickly and securely.
The company excels in speed of trade execution, with 99.4% of all orders filled without any dealer intervention. Known for its award winning DealBook software available for desktop, web, mobile or tablet, GFT Markets also provides options for automated trading, 24/7 customer service and competitive spreads even in times of volatility.
What products does GFT offer?
We offer clients multiple ways to access global markets. Being able to trade foreign exchange, contracts for difference, forex options, binaries or spread bets with the same provider means it is a true "one-stop shop". Combined with extensive education from our in-house experts and up-to-the minute news and commentary from our sister site FX360.com we are able to cater for the needs of most traders.
Binaries are the latest addition to our product portfolio. The platform emphasises user experience and visual trading. The revolutionary deal-wheel is an example of this - a countdown tool that shows the seconds before expiry of markets.
We offer short-term trades at five-minute, 20-minute and hourly intervals, as well as mid-session and daily markets. Across all categories available, that adds up to more than 6000 binary trades a day. Inherent to binaries is the ability to know your maximum profit and loss upfront - something that should attract traders both new and experienced.
What kind of person would want to become a customer?
GFT Markets believes in making markets more approachable, offering the knowledge, value, services and software that traders want. Our continued client referrals are testament to these attributes and helps create a loyal group of customers.
Spread betting, CFDs and forex trading can be fun, fast-paced and exciting - but to some it may seem complicated, too. With GFT Markets, around-the-clock customer service means we will answer your questions fast, while free training tools provide the guidance you need.
What platforms and apps do you have?
We are best-known for DealBook, our suite of trading platforms. We offer desktop, web, mobile and iPad versions our product range, DealBook 360 is the original - a solid, desktop-based platform that can be configured to give traders the look and feel they want. DealBook Web is a web-based solution giving you the freedom to trade from any computer. DealBook Mobile does what it says on the tin, while there's also a dedicated app for iPhone.
Our latest software innovation is DealBook for iPad. You can access your spread betting, CFD and forex accounts easily. The interface is flexible and contains powerful features such as full-screen charting with drawing tools, live streaming CNBC video and a multi-view interface.Mobile trading is now becoming a significant tool in the active traders' armoury.
What's the education element?
Our education is tailored to suit every type of trader. Whether you have never traded before or are a seasoned trader, we provide videos, guides, seminars and webinars to cater to your needs. Our live seminars and webinars cover all you need to know, from placing your first trade to technical analysis and advanced trading tools. The free guides and videos available on our website show you the basics of trading and the platform as well as charting, strategies and much more. With extensive market commentary and analysis from FX360.com and our team of market experts across the globe, GFT Markets traders have all the tools they need to react to the market quickly and make informed trading decisions.
Punting on the big US political race
David Morrison of GFT suggests how to bet on the outcome of the US elections...
If there's one item that's going to dominate the news agenda through 2012, it's going to be the US presidential election.
Will Obama be able to hold on for another four years, or is it time for the Republicans to take charge once again? The outcome seems too close to call for now. But as each round of voting passes in the months ahead, the key differences in economic policy that make up the two opposing sides stand to be played out in financial markets, too. Every time the elephant or the donkey shuffles closer to the finishing line, there's likely to be no shortage of posturing by investors.
Guns, Bibles and tea parties aside, principally it's the promise of lower taxes from the Republicans that will dominate in the red corner.
Although the suggestions of a 0% corporation tax rate may seem ambitious, there is no shortage of those who believe the way to rebuilding the US economy is with low taxes.
But any accompanying shortfall in revenues will once again force the issue on increasing the debt ceiling, which in turn could put the dollar under some pressure. Remember last summer when political posturing and a fudged solution led to the US losing its cherished triple-A credit rating? Stock markets plunged.
Using a spread bet to gain exposure to something like the Dow means you can bet in pounds per point, removing any exchange-rate risk - something well worth doing.
The US economy finally appears to be grinding higher - something that Democrats will be anxious to take credit for. But is the recent improvement sustainable? And are the better economic data truly reflecting the situation on Main Street? Clearly quantitative easing is having some effect as stocks continue to surge.
With the greenback still trading at relatively depressed values, there's room on the upside here, although with the UK economy limping on and even showing some signs of promise, do you really want to trade the pound against the dollar? Aussie dollar-US dollar, still trading so close to all-time highs, may have some allure, however.
Again with a spread bet, those in the UK can take a view in pounds per point. Perhaps growing expectations that Obama will make it two terms in office will see the greenback regain some of its might.
- More about:
- Automation
- Customer Service
- Foreign Exchange
- World Markets


text:
My Seychelles cosplay
A beautiful island floating in the Indian Ocean that is often called "The Last Paradise".
She's a southern country girl with the characteristics of light brown skin, dark brown hair and red ribbons, and a personality of a maybe-too-big heart and a little bit of sloppiness.
She's achieved 0% self sufficiency with food, and often laments over her high cost of living, but she's visited by France and England a lot so she's still living pretty carefree.
She speaks a mysterious language that has French, English and various other languages mixed in together.


text:
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 6:20 PM
I recently had a reader complain about the sexual content in one of my novels. The person declared that he did not want to read romance or erotica. I can understand that, but I don't write in those genres. If I were to market my novels as romance I would likely get many complaints about not focusing on love enough.
The offense I caused this reader got me to thinking about how self publishing can differ from traditional publishing. Publishers define genres, acquire content that fits criteria or shape it to their criteria, and then place round peg products into round peg holes. Readers learn to expect certain things. Epic fantasy, the genre I write in, was for a long time not a place for bumping uglies. Although I love this genre, I had always imagined that it would be even more fun and meaningful if its characters had a more realistic edge and were allowed to openly indulge in romantic urges.
When I started writing in the late 1990s I had conceived of myself as being published by a publisher, so I kept the content within some of the boundaries I was familiar with from commercially produced fantasy fiction. I worried that if I went too far, a potential publisher would tell me to change things. And trust me the thought of anyone telling me to change something in my novels is anathema to me. Even so, my first four novels were decidedly PG-13. I included sexual situations and love scenes but wrote them politely.
Then in 2004 I discovered the fantasy of George R.R. Martin and was exceedingly impressed, apparently along with millions of other readers. I loved the huge cast of characters, the battles, the intrigue, the magic, but I was also delighted to discover an epic fantasy not hobbled by ridiculous Victorian notions about keeping everyone's pants up. Epic fantasy had matured, moved out of the house, and was going to live with her boyfriend if she wanted to. Feeling quite liberated, I decided to write my next novels exactly how I wanted to without playing chaperone to my sexual content.
When I do love or sex scenes, my phrasing has become more graphic and my sexual situations are a bit more frequent. I very much enjoy writing my stories this way. I write epics in which years pass in the lives of characters and it would seem quite strange if none of them had love interests or the occasional hook up between battles. Would it even be reasonable to portray a young man who is good looking, rich, and frequently facing death as NOT interested in the advances of women?
Then there are literary reasons for giving characters sex lives. It adds intensity to their lives and hopefully helps readers relate to them and understand their motivations better. For example, of course a hero wants to save people because it's the right thing to do, but he especially wants to save his lover and mother of his child. Or how about this scenario? Of course that young princess hates the thought of an arranged marriage, and now that exciting outlaw who just kidnapped her would be a great way to get back at daddy. Now that's much more interesting, at least to me.
But now I return to my marketing quandary. How do I present my fantasy novels to readers? I don't think I'm romantic or sexy enough to claim the label romance and certainly not erotica. But when I use the label epic fantasy, apparently some people seem to think nookie is off limits, or at best off stage. I understand that some readers never want sex in their books, but how am I supposed to convey in my marketing that my writing is inspired by the full range of human emotions and experiences?
I realize I'll never please everyone. I never became a writer shaped by the requirements of a product line developed by an outside company. I'm an independent writer self publishing her novels. They are exactly the way I want them to be, but I admittedly struggle with how to package and present them to readers. I'm sure I'm not alone among indie writers with this problem. I guess I'll just have to go along upsetting the occasional reader who doesn't want chocolate in his peanut butter. As a writer, I can at least be satisfied that I am provoking strong reactions.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Pictures of my garden
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 2:10 PM
It may not look like much is going on but this picture shows growing: corn, beans, butternut squash, pumpkins and a peach tree in the background.
Another view showing the cucumber and zucchini area.
This patch shows from left to right: Carrots I let go to seed from last year. Lettuce going to seed, but I am still eating the leaves. I just go pick them whenever I need a salad or lettuce for my sandwiches. Growing it amid weeds and seeding carrots I think has helped protect it from the heat and kept it from getting bitter. Then there is a patch of carrots. They're hard to see. They are tucked up against the tall brown rye that grew this spring. A few potato plants are on the other side of the rye. I know this looks like a mess but I've already harvested countless salads out of this patch and will get many carrots and potatoes in the fall.
I don't have a good picture right now of my many tomatoes and potatoes and peppers growing. Plus I put in 4 apple trees along the fence this spring.
Feel free to comment and post links to pictures of your garden. It's more important than ever that people start growing as much food as possible due to the low quality food available at the supermarket and the ever rising prices.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Rys Rising gets 5 star review at Amazon UK
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 11:00 AM
Kindle user Avid Reader said of Rys Rising:
"Tracy Falbe is a fabulous writer; she has a way of making the characters real to the reader."
Thank you so much and I'm so glad you've enjoyed my novels. My characters feel very real in my heart and mind too.
You can download Rys Rising: Book I for free right here.
Or get it at the UK Kindle store.
Also, UK readers can get a paperback copy.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Signed paperback copy of Rys Rising by Tracy Falbe up for bid on ebay
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 1:22 PM
Before I announced the availability of the Rys Rising paperback at Amazon and in Europe, I naturally had to order a proof copy to make sure that the paperback looked good in person. It did. This means that I have a lovely Rys Rising paperback in my possession, so I have listed it on ebay as a copy signed by the author.
Because Rys Rising is produced by print-on-demand services wherever you order it, bidding on my auction is the only way to get a signed copy.
I've been selling on ebay for years and have a good feedback rating. This signed copy of Rys Rising ships within the United States. So if you're a fan of mine and would like a signed book by me, visit ebay and buy it. The buy it now price of $15 reflects its actual retail price. If you want to start the auction, bidding starts at a discounted price of $12.
Visit the signed Rys Rising ebay listing.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
New Release! Chapters 1 and 2 of The Goddess Queen fantasy audiobook
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 8:38 AM
|You can now start listening to The Goddess Queen audiobook.
Chapter 1 Fierce Loss
Chapter 2 The Proving Ground
You will recieve 2 mp3 files. Each is about 30 minutes.
In Chapter 1 Fierce Loss Dreibrand grapples with the pressures of his impending fatherhood.
In Chapter 2 The Proving Ground Dreibrand joins King Taischek on a royal hunt and Shan recklessly draws out the Kezanada.
Checkout with your Credit Card or use Paypal. Instant download provided by Digital Delivery App.
Last night I added a new product to my portfolio. I have begun production of The Goddess Queen: The Rys Chronicles Book II as an audiobook. This epic fantasy continues the saga begun in Union of Renegades. Whether you've read the free ebook or listened to the audio version of Union of Renegades, you now have a new format choice for continuing the story as I continue to increase my audio selections.
Because audio is the most expensive to produce, I have to pay for recording in installments. Therefore I will be releasing monthly episodes of The Goddess Queen in mp3 format. Each episode will be approximately one hour of audio and cost $1.50. Eventually the entire novel will be recorded and then I can assemble the episodes into a complete audiobook and distribute it more widely into Audible and iTunes.
Purchasing the episodes as they come out will greatly assist me in financing this project. I have planned for the release of 15 episodes, which at $1.50 each will equal a typical pricepoint for a full length audiobook.
The narrator reading The Goddess Queen is Andrew Wetmore. He is working my fantasy novel into his busy schedule as a side job. Right now he's working on software tutorials and he's liking having some fiction on his plate. He's a writer, actor, and voice talent. His rich voice is very inviting and easy to listen to.
Episode 1 of The Goddess Queen fantasy audiobook.
Chapter 1 Fierce Loss
Chapter 2 The Proving Ground
You will recieve 2 mp3 files. Each is about 30 minutes.
In Chapter 1 Fierce Loss Dreibrand grapples with the pressures of his impending fatherhood.
In Chapter 2 The Proving Ground Dreibrand joins King Taischek on a royal hunt and Shan recklessly draws out the Kezanada.
Checkout with your Credit Card or use Paypal. Instant download provided by Digital Delivery App.
See more details about this audiobook at Brave Luck Books.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Goddess Queen audiobook is happening!
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 8:57 AM
Listeners of the Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I audiobook will be pleased to hear that I am producing the next novel The Goddess Queen as an audiobook.
I am financing production of the recording of The Goddess Queen audiobook in installments so my budget can gradually absorb the cost. This means I will be releasing the novel in two-chapter episodes. Each episode will be $1.50 to download the mp3 files. Each episode will be about one hour of audio, more or less due to variations in chapter length.
Eventually the entire novel will be recorded and I will be able to release it as a complete audiobook at Audible and iTunes.
I will release the first two chapters on Thursday July 19th.
Please follow this blog or go to The Goddess Queen audiobook page and join my readers' list so you can be notified when the audio is available.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Excellent book: Spinning Straw into Gold by Joan Gould
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 6:39 PM
|Spinning Straw into Gold: What Fairy Tales Reveal About the Transformations in a Woman's Life
Gould illustrates and examines the themes of female transformations and burdens throughout her life as dramatized in fairy tales. I've always loved fairy tales and of course recognized some of the messages about growing up, but I now have a much more profound appreciation and understanding of my own life thanks to Gould.
Her guiding point was that women are ruled by biological transformations that have huge impacts on their lives. The girl matures into a woman. A transformation. The young woman enters a sexual time. Another transformation. The woman bears children. A startling physical transformation. The woman grows old and loses fertility, and transforms into the final stage of life.
Many fairy tales and popular stories address the girl to sexual woman stages because this is the fun and sexy part. But from Gould I learned to think more deeply about the stages of matron and crone. I especially liked her interpretation of the Seal Wife stories. In the Seal Wife, a fisherman catches a seal and brings her on shore. He takes her seal skin and makes her a woman. He hides the seal skin because without it she cannot return to the sea. She is trapped on land with him and becomes his wife and the mother of his children. But one day she finds her seal skin, puts it on, and returns to the sea. The story connects with the general longing of mothers to escape their responsibilities and return to the freedoms lost to marriage and motherhood. Or it can represent the mother who recalls her former self and resumes some of her interests beyond the rigors of diapers and soccer practices.
I also liked Gould's words on the subject of old age. She explained how in earlier days most people did not live long enough to become elderly, so an old woman was considered to have some kind of strange magic keeping her alive. Now that old age is much more common, Gould said that it was a great gift of life for her free of the daily demands of nurturing the next generation as the matron must do.
I highly recommend Spinning Straw into Gold for people who like fairy tales and who really like to explore the deeper realities of life.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Save 18 percent on Rys Rising hardcovers or paperbacks at Lulu
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 12:48 PM
Use code CAUGHT to save 18 percent off purchases at Lulu this week.
Through Friday July 13th, any of my readers interested in obtaining either hardcover or paperback copies of the first three novels of my Rys Rysing series can use the code CAUGHT when checking out to save 18 percent off the cover price. Paperbacks are priced at $15 and hardcovers are $24 plus shipping.
Available titles at the print-on-demand service Lulu are:
Rys Rising: Book I
Savage Storm: Rys Rising Book II
New Religion: Rys Rising Book III
You can browse all these titles at my Lulu page. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/tracy1
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Manuscript of Love Lost: Rys Rising Book IV is completely written
Posted by Tracy Falbe at 12:28 PM
Late on July 3rd I wrote the final words of Love Lost. This completed a writing adventure that began in late 2003 when I wrote the first chapters of Rys Rising. Close to nine years later the epic is finished despite substantial interludes of life happening when I couldn't work on it at all.
Love Lost marks my completion of writing eight novels. The other seven novels total 1.2 million words of narrative that I have written and published. I don't know what kind of achievement that is, but it is an achievement that I am proud of. I wish I could say that I cured a cancer or planted a forest, but for some unknown reason writing novels is what satisfies me on a mental and spiritual level. I need to organize the words into stories and channel characters from my imagination into the imagination of other readers.
Authoring two fantasy series may be an irrational pursuit but it has provided a needed outlet for my creative energy for most of my adult life. I'm deeply grateful and amazed by the kind comments I have gotten from readers over the years. Although I'd write novels even if the whole world insisted I should not do it, I have always been significantly boosted by the fact that some people like my fiction.
I'll be working hard the next few months editing and proofreading the novel. I am tentatively planning to publish it in October.
Passages from the manuscript that I am fond of:
Dacian walked along the line of prisoners. Their hopeless fear bombarded his sensitive mind. The terror that his power inspired was both repugnant and pleasing. Repugnant because he longed for love, yet pleasing because their fear proved the totality of his power.
Cruce walked the rampart overlooking the square. This was the place from which estate class people watched the Grand Lumin's Poteny celebrations, and now Cruce was drawing a crowd. He waved to the people and drew a few cheers from the pilgrim sections. Most of them were likely from Kahtep or the frontier and were intimately familiar with his efforts to defend them.
"Why are we up here?" Dayd asked.
"I have nothing to hide," Cruce said. "The people won't be able to accuse me of using sneaky underhanded tactics."
Dayd grasped that he was trying to influence public opinion for whatever it was worth, but she doubted the people would understand the nuances of the situation. "Cruce, most people will have no idea how our rivals have wronged us. They may not even care," she complained.
"I know, but they'll soon know exactly what will happen when I am unhappy with someone. They'll see that the Chenomets are strong. People like strength," Cruce explained.
Loxane noticed how Demeda attracted more attention. Beaming a smile, Demeda waved to the poeple, carefully oblivious to Loxane's annoyance.
When the procession left the village and pulled ahead of the trailing crowd, Loxane said bluntly, "Why people say your name more?"
Demeda took a drink from her canteen. The day was warming up and she would need to keep her throat moist for her singing. She savored Loxane's disgruntled jealousy as she took her time replying.
"Perhaps if you did not slit so many throats they would love you better," Demeda said.
"I kill unbelievers," Loxane argued.
That Loxane was baffled amused Demeda, who doubted Loxane could actually understand her point. Kelsurs in general did not seem to be much bothered by killing and death. Such things were accepted like the setting sun or the moon going dark for a few days.
For a hard hitting and passionate fantasy epic told from many angles, start reading Rys Rising for free.
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Coastal Vs. Blue water
Gee, Graham, I haven''t found that to be true that "anything with a mast becomes a motorsailer for a large chunk of the summer when cruising the Chesapeake". Most days, if you pick your time of day, there is enough wind to cover 20 or so nautical miles in a day without even starting the engine. I have gone over a week cruising the Chesapeake in summer without even starting the engine. That is my point that you just need to pick a boat for the conditions.
Coastal Vs. Blue water
IMHO. Generally speaking, the boats will take more than the occupants. If you look at something like a Flicka (size/for/size, if in fact size is that important) they have done some marvelous voyages. I am of the opinion that the seamanship is generally the deciding factor between a disaster and a sucessful passage.
Fair Winds.
Don Carr
Coastal Vs. Blue water
LOL Just about anything with a mast becomes a motorsailer for a large chunk of the summer when cruising the Chesapeake!
s/v Blue Moon
Coastal Vs. Blue water
Blue water and Coastal are in the mind of the beholder. I have heard all kinds of decriptions of what is or what isn''t ''blue water''. The reality is that this is one of those nebulous terms that gets bandied about and really has taken on a life of its own.
I really do recall even hearing that term used very much until fairly recently. When I was a kid the term that you heard more frequently was ''offshore'', which seemed to be anywhere out of sight of land. I really don''t like the term blue-water sailing or blue water very much because it is so imprecise but seems to get held up as a magic charm or incantation that can ward off all each sailor''s personal brand of malevolencies.
If you spend any time talking to sailors of all stripes, you find that there is a wide range of opinions about what is a suitable offshore boat, and when a blue-water boat is required. For example, All kinds of boats make the passage across the Gulfstream to the Bahamas. You''d be amazed at the junk that used to make that passage prety much without instruments back in the 1960''s and 1970''s. But you can really get your head handed to you if things act up in the ''Stream.
So some folks say, you don''t need no stinking ''blue water'' boat to sail to the Bahamas and others insist you are suicidal to make the passage on anything less than a fully found bluse water boat.
A few years back, there was a food fight on this forum between myself and another fellow about using a particular brand of especially avoir du pois challenged ''blue water cruiser'' on the Chesapeake. The original question started with, should I buy a ''Lead Bobber 37'' or a ''Valuepacked 42'' to sail in the Chesapeake.
I basically told the original poster that the Valuepacked was fine for the Chesapeake and that the Lead Bobber was really a motorsailor with a mast when used on the Bay. This sent a fellow poster round the bend. Essentially an owner of one these dreadnaughts felt that I was ignoring the real hazzards of sailing the Chesapeake in anything less than one of these "go anywhere" bohemoths.
He wasn''t right but he wasn''t entirely wrong either. He cited the example of one of the big blows that can come up quickly on the Bay (I got to sail my Laser 28 in 65 knot winds)and the sometimes large floating debris. Paraphrasing his words, he went on to say that he did not mind motoring for most of the summer in order to keep his family safe. For him, the Chesapeake required a ''blue water boat'' and if that is what he judged to be necessary for his enjoyment and sense of security, then he is not wrong (at least for his own boat).
By the same token, back in the 1970''s I knew a guy who had sailed from Australia to Dinner Key in Florida in a rotted out old plywood boat with plywood patches nailed with ring nails over the worst holes. He said he just hopped from place to place rarely at sea for more than a couple days and so to him none of it was really offshore sailing.
Coastal Vs. Blue water
Yes, I mine and sell Oregon Sunstone and handle a few other American mined stones as well. With a name like kimberlite it sounds like you are into diamonds.
Dust Devil Don
Coastal Vs. Blue water
i noticed you net name.
Are you in the gemstone business?
Coastal Vs. Blue water
At the risk of sounding really dumb, at what point do you go from coastal to blue water?
Is it crossing the gulf stream to the Bahamas
or or is it going out side of the Caribbean or what? In a couple of years my wife and I are hoping to buy a comfortable shoal draft live-a-board 40'' to 45''. Our plans are to stay in the islands and along the coast of central America. We have limited sailboat experience (ex commercial fishing powerboaters) but have chartered and are taking lessons.
Thanks for any input.
Dust Devil Don aka gemstoneminer
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Originally Posted by bdp.
With everything pretty much in line or better, why are we sitting at 3.02 right now? Simply a case of selling the news or is there a major disappointment looming?
I think that Jim Meyers is going to do a great job as CEO for Sirius, but I think that the overall market wanted to see someone else.
Sirius is on the right path overall.
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Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.
Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002
by Salman Rushdie
No current Talk conversations about this book.
Why didn't I read Salman Rushdie sooner?? The first essay in this collection sold me on him immediately. It's a fun, interesting discussion of The Wizard of Oz, his experience with the movie, the making of the movie, its symbolism...
My favourite quote:
"What [Dorothy] embodies . . . is the human dream of leaving, a dream at least as powerful as the countervailing dream of roots . . . this is unarguably a film about the joys of going away, of leaving the greyness and entering the color, of making a new life in 'the place where there isn't any trouble' . . . it is a celebration of Escape, a grand paean to the uprooted self, a hymn - the hymn - to Elsewhere."
His essays range from rock music to his life under the fatwa.
I'm definitely going to try out Haroun and the Sea of Stories and Midnight's Children/
Because Rushdie is such a good writer it is enjoyable to read his thoughts on a multitude of topics; and this collection is an opportunity to do just that. While topics dear to his heart, like freedom of speech and freedom from religious persecution, get special attention, he also writes about music, politics, and religion in general. With intelligence, humility, and wit this collection is an excellent read for anyone interested in the world around them.
Savvy and relevant. I love Rushdie's slightly self-deprecating wit; he invites us into the inner circle and asks us to laugh with him, rather than at him.
References to this work on external resources.
Wikipedia in English (2)
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0679783490, Paperback)For all their permeability, the borders snaking across the world have never been of greater importance. This is the dance of history in our age: slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, back and forth and from side to side, we step across these fixed and shifting lines. —from Part IV
With astonishing range and depth, the essays, speeches, and opinion pieces assembled in this book chronicle a ten-year intellectual odyssey by one of the most important, creative, and respected minds of our time. Step Across This Line concentrates in one volume Salman Rushdie's fierce intelligence, uncanny social commentary, and irrepressible wit—about soccer, The Wizard of Oz, and writing, about fighting the Iranian fatwa and turning with the millennium, and about September 11, 2001. Ending with the eponymous, never-before-published speeches, this collection is, in Rushdie's words, a "wake-up call" about the way we live, and think, now.
(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:08:32 -0400)
Best-selling, Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie offers incisive, often humorous takes on literature, culture and world events in this New York Times Notable Book. In these stimulating pieces, Rushdie addresses a variety of subjects, including the death of the novel, India, soccer and the Rolling Stones.… (more)
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Since each of those cores is supposed to have twice the graphics processing power of the current SGX535 in the iPhone 4, iPad and the iPhone 3GS, we are looking at roughly 4x bump in the graphics and video performance, compared to those oldies. Good, now we can sleep better, knowing that the iPad 2, and, most likely, the iPhone 5, will encode and decode full HD video with ease, which should be a pleasure to watch with the iPad's new screen resolution. They'd better ship with at least 64GB of storage then.
PowerVR is a part of Imagination Technologies, which licenses mobile graphic chipset designs to companies who actually produce them, like Samsung, similar to what ARM does with its mobile CPU designs. In 2008 Apple, Samsung and Imagination Technologies started their cross-licensing partnership, which resulted into what went into the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad for Apple, as well as Samsung Galaxy S and Samsung Wave for Sammy.
The notable difference between the two companies is that since Samsung released its handsets later than the 3GS, it used PowerVR SGX540 in its 1GHz Hummingbird chipset, which pushes about three times more polygons per second than the SGX535 we have in the iPhone 3GS. The theoretical 90 million count makes Samsung's Hummingbird chipset still the undisputed leader in graphics, beating even NVIDIA's dual-core Tegra 2.
PowerVR SGX543, in its quad-core configuration, is supposed to go into Sony's PSP2, so that's a vivid testimony of its abilities. Still, Samsung will be using ARM's own graphics subsystem called Mali in its upcoming Orion chipset, which Sammy claims pushes 5 times more of those little triangular thingies per second than the previous model. Depending on whether that means the previous Mali models, or the Hummingbird chipset, Orion is rumored to process anything between 130 million to 450 million triangles, so the next-gen iPad and iPhone will be given a good run for their money, all for our geeky benefit. Don't you just love competition?
via AppleInsider


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The MBP + Hi-Res Screen is a good option.
I already have 2 hardcore windows laptops at 17 inch and 1920×1200 displays so for me I need something a lot more mobile. I was thinking 13 incher for cafe's and office supplement and a nice Dell screen when home. I just cant work on sub 1920×1200 screens anymore. I have been working with this res for almost 5 years now.
I found that workin in a cafe sitting outoors is a good way for me t break up the day and avoid the feeling of being imprisoned so I think I will go with the 13 incher.
kailoon said
This is a little off topic, if I already own an iMac 27 and I would like to get a mbp. How can I sync both system? So they have the same apps and files, via wireless? I will mainly work on mbp on day time and only work on imac during night time. Anyone has the experience?
I guess it's been a while since you posted, but I figured I might as well still answer it.
A great way to sync your important stuff is by using DropBox – there was an elaborate article on it on Appstorm the other day.
If you don't know the program yet; the idea is as follows. You basically have a folder, Dropbox, that is synced continuously on all machines that are 'subscribed' to that folder. Just by dragging something into it, it'll be downloaded on all other devices. And then there's a heap of features that make this very comfortable to use – think of things like version control (all previous versions are stored on their server and you can decide to restore an older version, or even un-delete a file from your Dropbox folder), shared folders (multiple Dropbox users syncing to a single folder for cooperative projects), right-clicking a file (image?) in your 'Public' folder to get the direct link onto your clipboard so you can share it easily and of course accessing your files via the website interface if you happen to be using a computer that isn't hooked up to your dropbox!
Might be a little off-topic, but figured I'd post it anyway. Couldn't resist an opportunity to promote Dropbox
On-topic: since March this year I've switched from my Acer desktop machine to a MacBook Pro 13". I've never looked back. I'm currently using the screen that I used with my desktop machine as a dualscreen with my Macbook Pro (vertically), giving me lots of space when I'm at home and lots of portability when I'm in the train to university. It's my ideal setup!
I guess that's what it comes down to: do you need the portability? Then buy a Macbook (I decided to get the 13" rather than the 15" since it's not only much cheaper but also much more portable – a 15" laptop is quite a bit larger to carry around), with a (cheap – I'm using a $120 22" at the moment and it works just fine) secondary screen for at home.
I'm also trying decide between a MBP and a 27 in iMac.
I would love to get a 15in MBP + the apple cinema screen, but it's way too expensive. So I'm thinking of just going with the iMac and later on maybe get an iPad.
I want to buy a new mac soon… but does anyone know if a) Apple will have any discounts for Black Friday and b) if Apple will update the iMac anytime soon. Would really suck if I bought the iMac and 1 month later they release a better one
I hardly doubt apple computers and etc go on sale at all any time a year (except refurbished and late versions).
DDStudios said
http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/ I hardly doubt apple computers and etc go on sale at all any time a year (except refurbished and late versions).
If I remember right, last year they did have a sale ($100 off I think), but haven't heard anything this year.
And thanks for the link, but I've read anything from Jan/Feb to Sept/November 2011, so not sure who to trust


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Beard the Blog
What were the papers like at the APA? Several people have asked -- and the fact is that I didn't actually go to any except my own, and those in my own panel. I wasn't buried away interviewing, like some (though I did interview two potential graduate students for Cambridge).
No, I was sitting in my room writing an essay for a catalogue to go with an exhibition about the Roman Triumph, due to open in the Colosseum in the spring (it looks a good show by the way, for anyone who is going to be in Rome). My theme was fraud and deception at the triumph – including those marvellous stories of Roman emperors who dressed up fake prisoners to adorn their processions, or Domitian who, in the absence of any good spoils raided his own palace furniture store and paraded that. OK this should have been a piece of cake, but it still took me more than a day to put together.
Anyway my panel was called "From Classical Tradition to Receptions Studies: four national perspectives" – featuring me, Jim Porter from Michigan (on "Hellenism and Modernity"), Ernst Schmidt from Tübingen (on "The German rediscovery of Vergil in the Early 20th Century') and Alessandro Barchiesi from Stanford (on whom more later).
So how did it go?
I was quite happy with how my paper turned out in the end. I focussed on Alf Williams and Ann Yearsley (the poet milkmaid) as examples. But I was trying to make two points. The first was, as I mentioned in my earlier post, that British Classics isn't (and wasn't) a unitary phenomenon, a toffs-only subject, a definer of exclusive elite culture. The second point was to query the implications of that. When working class autodidacts took up Classics was that a sign of acquiescence in the dominant elite culture, or was it a challenge to it? Did they offer different a different kind of engagement with Classics from that of the public school and Oxbridge elite?
Barchiesi gave an interesting account of a novel by Sebastiano Vassalli, Un infinito numero (I haven't read it, but from his account, it is set in the reign of Augustus, featuring Vergil and Maecenas and the opposition between Etruscan and Roman culture. But, as I understood it, his main point was that, unlike Britain, Italy hadn't traditionally used fictional recreations of ancient Rome as a means of defining its own cultural identity. Italy hasn't produced a stream of Bulwyer Lyttons, Ben Hurs, Rosemary Sutcliffes etc.
An interesting point, but I wasn't sure that it was entirely true. Or, to put it another way, it is probably true for novels in the strict sense. But not for other forms of fictional recreations, film, opera, art etc. I mean the first Last Day of Pompeii was not Bulwer Lytton's, but an opera in Naples (with a rather different plot – apart from the end, obviously).
The other main thing that came home to me at the conference was that this blog is now much better known than anything else I've ever done. When I checked in to the conference, the guy behind the desk said "Are you Mary Beard?" "Yes," I replied, fancying that he might be going on to say how much he's enjoyed what I'd written on Roman Religion, the Roman Triumph, the Parthenon . . . In fact he just smiled and said "You write a blog".
So from now on, it's "Beard the Blog" as the Welsh might say.