text:
PSD from Amazon.com.
"It looks
obvious until you try it."
IEEE Software
"It looks
obvious until you try it."
IEEE Software
My flight was waiting on the runway
when the captain made an announcement. "We've had some
trouble with the plane's air conditioning system. In a
plane, the air conditioner controls the oxygen levels so
we need to make sure it's working before we can take
off. Restarting the air conditioning unit hasn't worked,
so we're going to power down the aircraft and power it
back on. These modern airplanes are all computer
controlled, you know, so they're not very reliable."
The pilot powered down the airplane,
powered it back up—essentially, rebooted the airplane—and our
flight continued without incident. Needless to say, I was
especially glad to deplane at the end of that particular trip.
The best software organizations control
their projects to meet defined quality targets. They accurately
predict software delivery dates months or years in advance. They
deliver their software projects within budget, and their
productivity is constantly improving. Their staff morale is
high, and their customers are highly satisfied.
A telecom company needed to change about 3,000 lines of
code in a code base of about 1 million lines of code. They made
their changes so carefully that a year later no errors had been
found in operation. Their total time to make the
changes—including requirements analysis, design, construction,
and testing—was 9 hours.[1]
A team developing software for the United States Air
Force committed to a 1-year schedule and a $2 million budget
even though other credible bids for the project had run as high
as two years and $10 million. When the team delivered the
project one month early, the project manager said the team's
success arose from using techniques that have been known for
years but that are rarely used in practice.[2]
An aerospace company develops software for companies on a
fixed-price basis. Three percent of its projects overrun their
budgets; ninety-seven out of a hundred meet their targets.[3]
An organization that committed to achieving outstanding
quality attained an average of 39 percent reduction in its
post-release defect rate every year for a period of 9 years—a
cumulative reduction of 99 percent.[4]
addition to these notable successes, software pumps billions of
dollars into the economy every year, both directly through sales
of software itself and indirectly through improved efficiency
and through creation of products and services that are made
possible only with software's support.
The practices needed to create good
software have been well established and readily available for 10
to 20 years or more. Despite some amazing triumphs, however, the
software industry is not living up to its full potential. There
is a wide gulf between the average practice and the best, and
many of the practices in widespread use are seriously outdated
and underpowered. Performance of
the average software project
leaves much to be desired, as many well-known disasters will
The IRS bumbled an $8 billion software modernization
program that cost the United States taxpayers $50 billion per
year in lost revenue.[5]
The FAA's Advanced Automation System overran its planned
budget by about $3 billion.[6]
Problems with the baggage handling system caused a delay
of more than a year in opening Denver International Airport.
Estimates of the delay's cost ranged as high as $1.1 million per
The Ariane 5 rocket blew up on its maiden launch because
of a software error.[8]
The B-2 bomber wouldn't fly on its maiden flight because
of a software problem.[9]
Computer-controlled ferries in Seattle caused more than a
dozen dock crashes, resulting in damage worth more than $7
million. The state of Washington recommended spending more than
$3 million to change the ferries back to manual controls.[10]
Many projects that are lower profile than
these are equally troubled. Roughly 25 percent of all projects
fail outright,[11]
and the typical project is 100 percent over budget at the point
it's cancelled. Fifty percent of projects are delivered late,
over budget, or with less functionality than desired.[12]
At the company level, these cancelled
projects represent tremendous lost opportunity. If projects that
are ultimately cancelled could be shut down at 10 percent of
their intended budgets rather than 200 percent, imagine what a
company could do by redirecting those resources at projects that
were not ultimately cancelled.
At the national level, cancelled projects
represent prodigious economic waste. A rough calculation
suggests that cancelled software projects currently impose about
a $40 billion drain on the U.S. economy.[13]
When projects succeed they can still present risks to the
public safety or welfare. A project lead at Lotus received a
call from a surgeon who was using a spreadsheet to analyze
patient data during open-heart surgery.[14]
Newsweek magazine printed pictures of soldiers
using Microsoft Excel on laptop computers to plan operations,
and the Excel technical support team has received calls from the
battlefield during active military operations.
Software development can be predictable,
controllable, economical, and manageable. Software isn't usually
developed that way, but it can be developed that way. This book
is about the emerging profession of software engineering—and
professional software practices that support economical creation
of high-quality software.
The essays in this book address questions
like these:
What is software engineering?
How does software engineering relate to computer science?
Why isn't regular computer programming good enough?
Why do we need a profession of software
Why is engineering the best model for a software
development profession?
In what ways do effective practices vary from project to
project (or company to company), and in what ways are they
usually the same?
What can organizations do to support a professional
approach to software development?
What can individual software developers do to become
full-fledged professionals?
What can the software industry as a whole do to create a
true profession of software engineering?
The sections in this book progress from
looking at the trade of computer programming as it exists today
to exploring the profession of software engineering as it might
exist in the future.
Section 1, "The Software Tar Pit,"
explains how the software field got to be the way it is. There
are many valid reasons why the software field came to its
current state. Understanding those reasons should be used to
accelerate, not delay, the changes needed to make successful
projects an everyday habit.
Section 2, "Individual Professionalism,"
looks at the steps individuals can take on their own to
achieve higher levels of software professionalism.
Software projects are so complex that
numerous key factors cannot be addressed effectively at the
individual level. Section 3,"Organizational Professionalism,"
digs into the organizational practices needed to support
more professional software projects.
Section 4, "Industry Professionalism,"
examines steps that must be taken by the software industry
at large to support professionalism at the individual and
organizational levels.
Professional Software Development is
an updated and significantly expanded edition of my 1999 book,
After the Gold Rush.[15]
Since 1999, I've learned several lessons that are reflected in
this new edition:
Licensing of software developers is more controversial
than I expected. I still think that licensing a small percentage
of software engineers is an important step toward protecting the
general public's safety and welfare. I have tried to clarify
that licensing is only one of many initiatives needed to improve
the software development profession, and not the most important
Education of software engineers does not have to be
tightly linked to licensing. Undergraduate and graduate
educational programs can seek to instill an engineering mindset
in software developers without necessarily preparing them to
become licensed professional engineers. Indeed, if fewer than
five percent of software developers are eventually
licensed—which seems likely—targeting the majority of
educational programs at licensing seems misguided.
The world didn't fall apart on January 1, 2000. Although
I didn't think Y2K would be catastrophic, I did believe that
Y2K-related problems would be more significant than they were.
The software industry's repair efforts turned out to be far more
effective than I expected. Beyond that, the Y2K problem itself
was in some sense a result of successful software
development practices. Y2K would not have been an issue in the
first place if so many software systems had not survived longer
than their originally expected lifespans.
Modern software development is truly impressive in many
respects, and any comments about professionalizing the field of
software development should account for software's numerous
successes. We must be careful not to throw out the field's
better practices as we try to strengthen the weaker ones.
If you develop software for a living,
this book will explore what you need to do to become a truly
professional software developer.
If you manage software projects,
this book will summarize the differences between poorly run and
well run software projects and overview what you can do to make
your projects more successful.
If you manage a software organization,
this book will outline the benefits available from
systematic approaches to software development and sketch what
you need to do to realize those benefits.
If you are a student who wants to work
in the software field, this book will introduce you to the
body of knowledge that makes up the field of software
engineering and show you what a career in software engineering
will look like.
Industry researchers have long observed 10
to 1 differences in productivity between different organizations
competing in the same industries.[16]
More recently, researchers have observed differences as high as
600 to 1.[17]
The most effective organizations are doing very well indeed.
The benefits of creating a true profession
of software engineering are compelling. Traditional thinking
would have it that change presents the greatest risk. In
software's case, the greatest risk lies with not
changing—staying mired in unhealthy, extravagant development
practices instead of switching to practices that were proven to
be more effective many years ago.
How to change? That is the central topic of
the rest of this book.
Pitterman, Bill, "Telcordia Technologies: The Journey to
High Maturity," IEEE Software, July 2000.
Gibbs, W. Wayt, "Command and Control: Inside a
hollowed-out mountain, software fiascoes—and a signal
success," Scientific American, August 1997, pp.
33–34. Tackett, Buford D., III, and Buddy Van Doren,
"Process Control for Error Free Software: A Software
Success Story," IEEE Software, May 1999.
Private communication with the author.
Herbsleb, James, et al., Benefits of CMM Based
Software Process Improvement: Initial Results,
Pittsburgh: Software Engineering Institute, Document
CMU/SEI-94-TR-13, August 1994.
Anthes, Gary H., "IRS Project Failures Cost Taxpayers
$50B Annually," Computerworld, October 14, 1996.
Britcher, Robert N., "Why (some) large computer projects
fail," in Glass, Robert L., Software Runaways,
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. Gibbs, W.
Wayt, "Software's Chronic Crisis," Scientific
American, September 1994, pp. 86–95.
Glass, Robert L., Software Runaways, Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. Gibbs, W. Wayt,
"Software's Chronic Crisis," Scientific American,
September 1994, pp. 86–95.
Nuseibeh, Bashar, "Ariane 5: Who Dunnit?" IEEE
Software, May/June 1997, pp. 15–16.
Fishman, Charles, "They Write the Right Stuff," Fast
Company, December 1996.
Neumann, Peter G., Computer Related Risks,
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1995.
The Standish Group, "Charting the Seas of Information
Technology," Dennis, MA: The Standish Group, 1994.
Jones, Capers, Patterns of Software Systems Failure
and Success, Boston, MA: International Thomson
Computer Press, 1996.
The Standish Group, "Charting the Seas of Information
Technology," Dennis, MA: The Standish Group, 1994.
This rough calculation is based on the employment
figures presented in Table 7-2 "Job Breakdown," on the
job titles of computer and information scientists,
research; computer programmers; computer software
engineers, applications; computer software engineers,
systems software; and computer systems analysts. Other
job titles were not considered in this analysis. Total
U.S. economic expenditure on software development was
computed by multiplying an average fully burdened labor
cost of $95,000 times 1,741,000 personnel in the job
titles listed. Of the total amount of roughly $160
billion, 25% is the amount that is spent on cancelled
projects. This analysis may understate the impact of
cancelled projects due to the fact that the risk of
cancellation increases with the size of the project, so
that cancelled projects may be more costly than average
Wiener, Lauren Ruth, Digital Woes: Why We Should Not
Depend on Software. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley,
McConnell, Steve. After the Gold Rush, Redmond,
WA: Microsoft Press, 1999.
Mills, Harlan D., Software Productivity, Boston,
MA: Little, Brown, 1983.
Yourdon, Edward, Rise and Resurrection of the
American Programmer, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice
Hall, 1996.
material is (c) 2004 by Steven
C. McConnell. All Rights Reserved.
Email me at


text:
Experts suspect North in South Korea cyberattack
SEOUL — A Chinese Internet address was the source of a cyberattack on one of the South Korean companies hit in an enormous computer shutdown that affected five other banks or media companies, initial findings indicated on Thursday.
It's too early to assign blame — Internet addresses can easily be manipulated and disguised — but suspicion for Wednesday's shutdown quickly fell on North Korea, which has threatened Seoul with attack in recent days because of anger over U.N. sanctions imposed for its Feb. 12 nuclear test.
Experts say hackers often attack via computers in other countries to hide their identities. South Korea has previously accused North Korean hackers of using Chinese addresses to attack.
The crash on Wednesday caused computer networks at major banks and top TV broadcasters to crash simultaneously. It paralyzed bank machines across the country and raised fears that this heavily Internet-dependent society was vulnerable.
A Chinese address created the malicious code in the server of one of the banks, Nonghyup, where computers crashed, according to an initial analysis by the state-run Korea Communications Commission, South Korea's telecom regulator.
It is expected to take at least four to five days for the infected computers to recover.
Regulators have distributed vaccine software to government offices, banks, hospitals and other institutions to prevent more outages.
The network paralysis took place just days after North Korea accused South Korea and the United States of staging a cyberattack that shut down its websites for two days last week. Loxley Pacific, the Thailand-based Internet service provider, confirmed the North Korean outage but did not say what caused it.
The South Korean shutdown did not affect government agencies or potential targets such as power plants or transportation systems, and there were no immediate reports that bank customers' records were compromised, but the disruption froze part of the country's commerce.
Some customers were unable to use the debit or credit cards that many rely on more than cash. At one Starbucks in downtown Seoul, customers were asked to pay for their coffee in cash, and lines formed outside disabled bank machines.
Shinhan Bank, a major South Korean lender, reported a two-hour system shutdown, including online banking and automated teller machines. It said networks later came back online and that banking was back to normal. Shinhan said no customer records or accounts were compromised.
Another big bank, Nonghyup, said its system eventually came back online. Officials didn't answer a call seeking details on the safety of customer records. Jeju Bank said some of its branches reported network shutdowns.
Broadcasters KBS and MBC said their computers went down at 2 p.m., but that the shutdown did not affect TV broadcasts. Computers were still down about seven hours after the shutdown began, according to the state-run Korea Communications Commission, South Korea's telecom regulator.
The YTN cable news channel said the company's internal computer network was paralyzed. Footage showed workers staring at blank computer screens.
KBS employees said they watched helplessly as files stored on their computers began disappearing.
An ominous question is what other businesses, in South Korea or elsewhere, may also be in the sights of the attacker, said James Barnett, former chief of public safety and homeland security for the Federal Communications Commission. Barnett heads the cybersecurity practice at Washington law firm Venable.
"This needs to be a wake-up call," he said. "This can happen anywhere."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
© 2002-2017
Encyclopaedia Metallum
Best viewed
without Internet Explorer,
in 1280 x 960 resolution
or higher.
I'm going to review the remastered version of this album because obviously everything has been improved without making ammendments to the songs themselves.
Iced Earth is a brilliant opener, very energetic with some great riffs. Very fast and sets the blistering pace for the rest of the album. Obviously Gene Adams isn't perfect as a vocalist, but in some sections the vocals do sound good. Colors has a superb riff that really sticks in the memory over anything else in the song, and is a good ride. Curse the sky and Life and Death are two great melodic/fast tracks that are looked over quite often, but there is great atmosphere in both.
Funeral is a superb Instrumental, it flows really well and the riffs are again, biting. The intro into When the night falls sets the atmosphere for the rest of the song, and I prefer this version over the DOP and AIA version, even with Gene Adams on vocals.
A great debut album from a truly great metal band, a solid basis for a great collection of albums, although they will improve over time.


text:
At its best negotiating rugged ravines rather than smooth, quiet cruising in town
Designers could have done better here; too many switches are fiddly and poorly sited
As well as the security of four-wheel drive, there are seven airbags, stability control and active headrests to protect you
Sturdy build and a five-year warranty bode well, as does Toyota's superb reliability record
Vast for five and luggage, or opt for extra seats to seat seven
Basic models have climate control and Bluetooth; stepping up to more luxurious spec costs a bomb
Large rival 4x4s offer a smoother, quieter experience on the road, but when it comes to driving your way over the Andes, this is the car to choose. The cheapest model has a 185bhp engine with a six-speed manual gearbox while the rest have a 187bhp engine and a five-speed automatic. Either way, there's no shortage of low-down pull, but they need plenty of revs to keep up the pace and swift manoeuvres at speed are a challenge.
It's an enormous car, so there's plenty of room inside for passengers. Basic LC3 models have five seats with the option of an extra two that fold out of the boot floor. In LC4 models the rear two seats are electric and will just about carry adults comfortably.
The boot is huge, although space is reduced with the extra seats in place, and the high floor and side-hinged door won't suit everyone. The driver enjoys a fine view out, thanks to the raised seat and big, square windows. Annoyingly some of the controls are hidden behind the steering wheel.
Toyota has an enviable reputation for reliability and if that's not enough, there's a five-year warranty to put your mind at ease.
You can be reassured on the safety front, too, with seven airbags, stability control and active headrests to prevent whiplash all fitted as standard.
In its cheapest form the Land Cruiser fits its no-frills off-roader brief perfectly and this is the model to pick if you can do without the auto gearbox and luxury extras. Don't expect running costs or resale values to offer such good value, however. Look elsewhere for frills and a better drive on-road.


text:
2 Min Read
(Reuters) - Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS.TO) has appointed Brian Porter to the role of president, Canada's No. 3 bank said on Wednesday, suggesting he will eventually succeed longtime Chief Executive Rick Waugh.
Porter, who joined the Toronto-based bank in 1981, is currently group head of its strategically important international banking division, which has operations in about 50 countries through Latin America and Asia.
He will officially take over as president on Thursday and report to Waugh, who had been both president and CEO.
Waugh, who has held the bank's top job since 2003, told Reuters in April that he had no imminent plans to step down.
But CIBC World Markets analysts Robert Sedran said Porter's promotion indicates he'll be the bank's next CEO.
"I think it's pretty clear that that's the next step. I'm expecting somewhere in the area of a one-year transition period and then Brian will be named president and CEO," he said.
Dieter Jentsch, currently the bank's executive vice president for Latin America, will take over Porter's role as head of international banking.
Jentsch and heads of the bank's other three business lines - Canadian banking, global wealth management and global banking and markets - will report to Porter.
The bank's shares were up 0.5 percent at C$54.42 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Reporting By Cameron French, additional reporting by Krithika Krishnamurthy in Bangalore; Editing by David Gregorio)


text:
About the Book
A collection of wedding and/or rehearsal images taken for Joshua Stephenson and Nicole Alexander. It was a pleasure to be present at their wedding and entrusted to take photographic images of their special day.
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About the Creator
Nancy Patrick
Casper, Wyoming, USA
Nancy Patrick is a photographer living in Casper, Wyoming. She enjoys photographing both landscapes and macro subjects.
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text:
Salma Hayek: Gucci Première Perfection
Bringing her overwhelming beauty to the red carpet, Salma Hayek was joined by Francois Henri Pinault at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday (May 14).
Looking fabulous, the "Frida" actress donned a silk georgette Gucci Première scarlet one shoulder gown with sweeping drape across the waist and hip with red glass bugel beaded embroidered detail as she greeted fans at the "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps" premiere.
During the course of the day, Miss Hayek and her man also attended the World Restoration Premiere of "Il Gattopardo".
According to a press release, "Il Gattopardo originally premiered to critical acclaim in Cannes in 1963, winning the festival's top honor, the Palme d'Or. With Gucci's support, the film has undergone an extensive 4K digital restoration at Sony's Colorworks Digital Facility through a partnership of Cineteca di Bologna, L'Immagine Ritrovata, The Film Foundation, Pathé, Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé, Twentieth Century Fox, and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia-Cineteca Nazionale."
Enjoy the pictures of Salma Hayek with Francois Henri Pinault in Cannes (May 14).
Photo Credit: Getty Images


text:
Joe Mauer: Move to first base tough but necessary
MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer had to do some soul searching.
The Twins' six-time All-Star talked with medical personnel
at the Mayo Clinic, one of the best hospitals in the world. He sought the
advice of former teammate Justin Morneau, who like Mauer has dealt with a
Ultimately, everything Mauer gathered led him to the same
decision: he will no longer play catcher, instead moving to first base. The
move was announced by Minnesota on Monday after Mauer and Twins general manager
Terry Ryan had discussions after the season ended.
"It was probably one of the tougher decisions I've had to
make, but also probably one of the easiest tougher decisions just because I
love catching," Mauer said during a conference call Monday. "I took my time to
make sure I could make the best decision for myself, my family, my career. …
Although it's not easy, I look forward to the challenge and I look forward to
getting back on the field."
Mauer spent 10 seasons as the Twins' catcher, earning the
American League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2009, five Silver Sluggers and
three Gold Gloves. His presence behind the plate has become synonymous with
Twins baseball over the past decade.
Now, fans in Minnesota will have to adjust to seeing Mauer
over at first base, a move that was brought on by a concussion that limited
Mauer's playing time to just 113 games in 2013. Mauer suffered the concussion
on Aug. 19 when he took a foul tip off the mask in a game against the New York
Mets. He was later placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list but remained
sidelined for the rest of the season.
While Mauer was hopeful to return to action in 2013, the
Twins felt it was best to shut him down for the rest of the year and let him
prepare for 2014. He'll now prepare for next season with a first baseman's
glove instead of his catcher's mitt.
"We wouldn't be having this conversation if I didn't have
that concussion," Mauer said. "I think with the two significant blows to my
head that day triggered this whole conversation. Before that happened, the last
two seasons I was feeling great and getting out there. I really tried to do
everything possible that I could to get back on the field. But I wasn't able to
do that."
Mauer does have experience at first base, having played
there 55 times over the last three seasons while batting .324/.397/.435 as a
first baseman. That includes 30 games at first in 2012 when Morneau was
injured. Mauer caught just 74 games in 2012, a number that increased in 2013
before his concussion, but he still found himself at first base eight times.
The Twins entered the offseason with a question mark at
first base, as there was no clear frontrunner for the starting job. Moving
Mauer from behind the plate answers that question.
"He's certainly athletic enough and defensively oriented
enough to play at first — and probably some other spots, for that matter,"
Ryan said. "I think that's the lead-up to this thing. It wasn't anything more
than trying to discuss his future to make sure we do what's best for Joe first
and the club as well."
Mauer was asked Monday if there was any chance he might be
used occasionally as a backup or emergency catcher. He quickly shot down that
"No catching. All it takes is one (foul tip)," Mauer said.
"That's one of the things I really had to realize, that if I said 'No, I'm
catching, I'm coming to spring training,' all it could take is one foul tip in
pitchers' batting practice and I'd be out two or three months or even more.
That's not something that I want to put my team in that position."
Minnesota now has four catchers on its 40-man roster: Ryan
Doumit, Josmil Pinto, Chris Herrmann and Eric Fryer. Doumit has spent the last
two seasons with the Twins after seven years in Pittsburgh and has played in
528 career games at catcher. Pinto made his major league debut in 2013, while
Herrmann did the same in 2012. Fryer has 22 big league games under his belt
with Pittsburgh and Minnesota.
While Ryan wouldn't rule out looking for a free agent
catcher, he feels comfortable with the depth the Twins have at catcher as they
look to replace Mauer.
"We've got a pretty good group back there still. Obviously
it doesn't stop us looking elsewhere as well. That's always a possibility,"
Ryan said. "Even if we went to spring training as is, we've got four guys that
have some experience, and a couple guys with plenty of experience. We're in
decent shape there, a lot better shape than actually over at first base."
Mauer's move to first base likely rules out a return of
Morneau, who was dealt to the Pirates at the trading deadline in late August.
He is now a free agent, but the Twins don't seem to have room for him with
Mauer assuming the first base role.
"I never say never, but we've got a first baseman here,"
Ryan said. "Obviously he's going to be over there hopefully for 140, 150 games.
We've got a first baseman. Justin certainly plays that position and plays it
well, so it lessens (the chance), but I'll never say that it's not a
possibility, but it might be improbable."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter
FOX Sports Go


text:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all baby boomers undergo testing for hepatitis C, in an announcement given on Friday.
The recommendation was made by the CDC in an effort to find hundreds of thousands of people who have the infection but do not know it. Having hepatitis C increases one's risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Infection by the hepatitis C virus may occur through intravenous drug use or blood transfusions. Even small amounts of the virus may cause an infection. Some experts believe that rolled-up dollar bills used to snort cocaine and passed around from one person to another can carry enough infected blood to spread the virus.
John Ward, head of the division of viral hepatitis at the CDC, shared: "Many baby boomers may not even remember the behaviors that put them at risk.â€
An estimated 3.2 million Americans may be infected with the hepatitis C virus, according to epidemiologists, and 75 percent of them are baby boomers.
The baby boomers have been identified for the simple reason that they are the population group with the largest number of undetected cases of infection.
The CDC is calling for a one-time voluntary blood test for everyone born from 1945 to 1965. The test will be part of routine medical care, and conducted by doctors, clinics and hospitals. This strategy may lead to the identification of 800,000 new cases of hepatitis C infection in baby boomers, and the prevention of 120,000 deaths related to hepatitis C among baby boomers.


text:
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
"My residential solar PV curiosity started about 3 years ago when my parents installed a 4.5Kwh system on their house in Colorado. I had the opportunity to see the system in action and was amazed at the incredible potential - a passive and nearly endless means of saving money on electrical bills, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing property value! When I learned about the Solarize Frederick project, I couldn't wait and jumped at the chance, and I'm really glad we did. I have been nothing but pleased with the solar workshops, and the Astrum Solar installation team was first rate. They met with us at our convenience and walked us through every stage, including completing all the paperwork and permitting for us. I would be hard pressed to recall a better customer-service encounter. We are now the proud owners of a 6Kwh system that I take great satisfaction watching electricity being produced via a customized link on my iPad. To all those homeowners contemplating a solar PV system, I wouldn't hesitate acquiring one. During this summer's intense heat, it is truly a refreshing feeling to know the hot sun is helping to pay for and power your air-conditioning!
"I've wanted a solar electric system for years. My reasons include lower electric bills, reducing fossil fuel use, and personal interest. 4 years ago, I came close to buying a do-it-yourself 1.5 kW photovoltaic system, but the expense was beyond my budget. With the volume pricing negotiated by the Solarize program, I'll be installing twice that size system for about the same cost. Dealing with reputable solar contractors monitored by the Solarize program means a lot, too. It's been great having peace of mind with the Solarize program helping to monitor quality, prices and follow-up after installation.
Now our Potomac Edison bills are down from over $100 per month to about $35. Our weatherization/insulation upgrade has been well worth doing both for comfort and energy savings. Upstairs bedrooms are cooler in the summer and the home uses less energy to condition. The federal tax credits and rebates from First Energy/Potomac Edison and the Maryland Energy Administration help a lot with the cost of upgrades and renewables, even with waiting 6 months to a year to receive the rebates or a tax refund for qualifying energy improvements."
|"Wanted to let you know that we signed off the final document last night for solarizing our home. You may recall that we had been investigating this for sometime when we learned of the county project. In fact, we had interviewed 5 companies and had 3 proposals in hand when we started attending county meetings. By far Astrum had the most comprehensive proposal and have demonstrated great willingness to work with us on making modifications that we wanted, showing incredible patience for all of the questions we had (having learned from previous proposals). We are looking forward to working with their installation group in the near future.To date, nothing but praise from the Bakers on this most worthy county project."
|"I wanted to take a minute to thank you for all your efforts on behalf of the citizens of Frederick County who wish to go solar. Your program and support has been of great value. From the 1st workshop I attended to the online challenges; Power Saver, Green Leader and the Renewable Star, each of your programs has assisted us in reducing our energy usage and reducing our carbon footprint.
For me, 1 of the key benefits of working with the Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources has been your ability to vet the many solar contractors out there and select Astrum Soar.
|Our installation is happening today. We are very excited to do something that we have talked about many times but financially could not do. With the help of the grant and where we are in life now we felt it was the right time to go solar. We have changed so many other aspects of our lives including our eating of organic foods to recycling and saving gas by combining trips around town. We want to teach our daughters that we care for our environment and that we want it clean for them.
We cannot wait till our panels are up and running!
Thank you!
Josh, Tina, Kaya and Aubrey
|We have always been interested in green options such as solar energy but never in our wildest dream we would have thought we could afford it. With the grants received this year, we have been able to make 1 of our life dreams come true and help a little bit nature at the meantime. We are so proud and happy to be a part of this movement and encourage everyone to do the same so we can all help this Earth last a little longer.
Salima, Mike and Julien
We are so happy to have our solar system up and running. Many of our neighbors have stopped by and asked about our new sexy addition. The system was installed as promised and Astrum has been very good answering any questions we have had. It has only been working for a couple of weeks but I can't help going to the side of my house and looking at my new meter, that shows me how much more energy I have made than used at this time of year. Thank you Solarize Frederick and EPA for the grant money and making it so easy to have solar installed.
| I have been thinking about the idea of solar energy for a long time, but up until now it was just too pricy. I was able to attend a seminar on solar energy that was presented as part of Charlie Cottingham's class on sustainability at Frederick Community College. Lisa Orr talked about solar programs, and the Solarize Frederick project. I got very excited and after hearing about the grants and financial incentives to go solar, I was hooked. I went to a subsequent seminar and signed up as soon as I was able. The project went very smoothly, and stayed on schedule. I was extremely excited when my latest electric bill was practically 0. What a great program to get people started on something that helps everyone.
Jan, Happy Solar User
We were 1 of the last homes to join the program. I was initially skeptical that it would make financial sense, but the analysis provided by Astrum Solar and my own research convinced me otherwise. I didn't attend any meetings primarily for lack of time, but still I felt informed. The cost to capacity ratio of our 8kW/31 panel array was much lower than what I'd been told to expect by a couple of colleagues with older systems, and the price was only slightly higher than what I was quoted for a 5kW system 6 years ago. The sales and installation process with Astrum has been quick (under 3 months from first contact to turning it on), and hassle-free. I would encourage anyone thinking about investing in solar to speak with them.
We just want to pass along our sincere appreciation to all personnel involved in Frederick County Solarize Program. The Green Homes Challenge really opened our eyes the little things that the homeowner can do to conserve energy. The staff and workers at Astrum Solar were very professional and easy to work with. When the Solar System was up and running is when we really realized a huge energy savings. We were pleasantly surprised when our first electric bill was $14.14 and the second one was $37. Normally our electric bill exceeds $100 each month. The good news is our solar system will be generating about 80% of our household electric needs.
We built a new home in Urbana Frederick 3 years ago, and from the start had very much wanted a solar electric system. Our house sits on a bright site, surrounded by fields with open exposure from dawn to dusk. Every day when I watch the sunrise and sunset I always felt like something was missing.
Mei and Jun
|We have been extremely happy with our solar power system from Astrum. We got the panels installed in June and have seen a substantial reduction in our electric bills. We've told many neighbors and friends about this wonderful program. Shortly after our system was installed our local state Senator was campaigning in our neighborhood and I thanked her personally for the state's efforts to promote Solar alternatives.
|We have been looking into the process of having solar PV installed on our 100-year-old house for over 3 years. After having closed cell foam insulation added to the walk up attic and the basement "band" (sill plate to foundation) we next replaced an antiquated end of life oil furnace and 20+ year old leaking outside air conditioner with geothermal heating and cooling.
We had decided 2013 would be the year to concentrate on adding solar as the final phase of updates. After much research over the preceding years and confirming recommendations from friends we decided to have the job done by Astrum Solar. About this same time the Solarize Frederick County effort appears and further confirms our decision about Astrum. Because of this and the great discounts being offered we joined the program immediately.
Astrum installed 35 260w Suniva solar panels in late July. Final electrical inspection took place on August 8 and the Town of Thurmont acquired and installed our meter on August 23. Our first utility bill only represented 3 weeks as it was near mid billing cycle but the total was only $3.37!! We also showed a credit for 176 kWh of excess electricity produced!! Our records show us a 3-week period during the previous 2 years would have cost $70-85. We expect the 12-month average cost of our bills will be in the $20-30 per month range. At expected rates along with tax breaks and SRECs the installation costs should be paid back in approximately 6-7 years.
We have had many visitors, walking or driving by, see the system and stop in for more information which we've been happy to share. We do hope this program will be repeated in the future since there are many more folks only now becoming aware of the benefits being offered both financially and environmentally. Many thanks to Glenn Raniere of Astrum Solar and especially to Lisa and all the folks of the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources who worked so hard to make this program the great success it has been!
Russ and Cindy
I became a Green Home's member last year when Frederick Green Challenge encouraged me to get a home energy audit. This was a great experience. Matt from Atlas gave me a great education and showed me how I could improve my home's efficiency. We added insulation to the attic and the basement walls and our home is now tight.
The Green Homes Challenge Solarize Frederick County program had just made the process possible to someone like us. We then requested a free solar home assessment and began the process. We now have 24 slick solar panels attach to our roof and we are very pleased. The result is now producing nearly 70% of our home's electrical power and is expected to pay for itself in less than 5 years.
My family and I are very happy with our decision and we encourage all of our neighbors to follow our lead. We have had a lot of interest from our neighborhood and have not heard any negative feedback. Thank you Frederick Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources, especially Lisa Orr.
Sincerely, Steve, Gina and Maggie
|We had our solar panels installed in August. We have already seen a huge reduction in our electric bill. One of the motivating factors in having the panels installed was to help offset the amount of energy a family of 5 can use. It can be challenging with 3 young boys. However with the various projects we have done while being a part of the Green Homes challenge my boys have seen the type of work that can be done to help reduce their carbon footprint. They have witnessed the work being done and have come away with a sense of what it takes to help care for the environment in which they live. Between the monetary savings and knowing that we are helping the planet, we are very grateful for all the programs that Frederick County has offered. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Our 26 panel, 6.76 kW PV system was installed by Astrum Solar on 15-16 July 2013. On the 16th, with the participation of the Frederick County Office of Sustainability, we held an open house, inviting interested passersby to obtain information on photovoltaics while the panels were being installed on the roof. Our house faces the south and the road so the work could easily be seen. We had a Green Ambassador present who was very experienced in PV installs and the circumstances involved. He even showed off his all-electric car to everyone's great interest.
In the ensuing 4 months, our PV panels have produced a month's worth of electricity more than our consumption—approximately 750 kWh. Our system is rated at 110% of our consumption established by our billing history. These 4 months have been very sunny and mild, so we have used our AC minimally and the PV panels have been very productive. Over a year's period we expect that the 110% figure will be fairly accurate. Our latest bill from Potomac Edison (to 22 Oct) shows that we have banked 656 kWh for a credit of $70.22.
With the federal and state rebates we expect from our 2013 tax returns, and the cash return from Astrum for signing up enough customers to go to "Tier 5," and the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) we rate, our system should pay for itself in 6-8 years. (The SRECs are a commodity the power companies buy from us for producing electrical power they don't have to generate.) Our 1 concern is that the roof shingles will have to be replaced in 8-10 years and the PV panels will have to be taken off and then put back.
As part of the Green Homes Challenge, we have taken other steps to save power by having additional insulation installed in our attic and had our basement sealed. This should have a positive effect on our gas heating consumption this coming winter and winters to come. Maryland State rebated 50% on this work.
We feel that any prospective buyer of our house will realize that their electrical bills will be near zero and will be willing to pay more for our house in the sale. We hope our experience will encourage others to "go solar" and insulate their houses.
David and Jean
Here are photos of my new solar array installed on my new barn roof, taken recently on a beautiful sunny day in early autumn. My project lead, Mr. Glen Raniere of Astrum Solar, worked very closely with the Frederick County electrical inspector, both of whom made several on-site visits while I was at work, and with Astrum Solar electricians, to get the installation exactly right. I am really looking forward to seeing "a sunny day in a whole new way" very soon. I would like to thank EPA for funding this initiative, Solarize Frederick County for facilitating the whole complex process, and Astrum Solar for designing and installing the solar power system.
Since our mid-August install , we've been elated by the energy savings! We have to thank, Solarize Frederick County for making the entire greening of our family easy and motivating with their great website tools and information. We also, must thank the EPA and Astrum Solar for making it affordable and a great environmental and financial investment.
|I had been thinking for some time about going solar, but not until I attended a Solarize Frederick meeting did I fully grasp all of the intricate issues surrounding such a venture.
The Solarize Frederick County staff took a complicated process and delivered it in a very easy-to-understand manner. Every question I had was answered. Every concern I raised was dealt with in a professional manner. It didn't take long and I was signing the paperwork not only for PV but also Solar Thermal.
My desire to go solar largely was tied to controlling (i.e. reducing/eliminating) some utility costs. The rising cost of propane and the ever-increasing electric bills were a concern for me and my wife. We felt going solar now is an investment in our financial future, in addition to immediately reducing our carbon imprint and teaching our young children to be environmentally aware.
The fact that the companies, Astrum and Solar Energy Services, had been vetted for quality assurance, coupled with the Solarize Frederick County grants made this a no-brainer in addition to very affordable. We enjoyed every step along the way -- from the Green Challenges, Power Saver and Renewable Star, where we put into action additional cost-saving plans -- to the installation and powering up of our very own solar panel system. Working with the Astrum Solar group was a pleasure. They had us up and running in almost no time, and have continued to follow up with us well after installation.
Although I knew we had made the right decision to go solar, but never more so than when I received that 1st $5.37 bill from my electric company! We are the envy of the neighborhood as neighbors have come to our backyard to see the system, ask questions ,and entertain heading in that direction themselves.
Not long ago, terms such as SRECs, kW, KWh, GATS, 250-watt panels, TSRF, were foreign to me. Now, I'm sharing that information with others.
Our 4.5 kW system was installed in November 2013. Our house was built in 2 stages: the south-facing front part dates from 1857 and is a log cabin covered by bricks, possibly in the 1890s; the rear half is a frame structure dating from the 1890s. So ours is probably one of the older homes in this area to receive the benefits of solar panels. Astrum Solar was a wonderful company to deal with. They kept us informed of progress and told us exactly what to expect and when. We have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone considering the installation of PV solar panels.
Bill and Cathy


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The Wolverine depicter in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine', Hugh Jackman, is no longer on the run to star as Mark Antony in Steven Soderbergh's 3-D live action musical, 'Cleo'.
Hugh Jackman won't be playing Roman general Mark Antony in "Cleo". According to Variety, the Tony Award-winning actor has removed himself from discussions to star alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones in the musical movie. Though it is still unclear what really is the reason behind him bowing out from the talks, words coming out from the insiders pointed on scheduling conflicts.
On other casting news related to the 40-year-old, the Daily Telegraph reported that Jackman will be lending his voice to the Warner Bros.' animated feature film, "Guardians of Ga'Hoole". If he is indeed cast, he will most likely work with Hugo Weaving and Ryan Kwanten under the direction of director Zack Snyder.
Eyed for 2011 release, "Cleo" is a 3-D live-action rock 'n' roll musical about Cleopatra. Although no deal has been struck yet, director Steven Soderbergh has been reported to have asked Catherine Zeta-Jones to play Cleopatra. In addition, Ray Winstone has been said to be in the discussions to take the role of Julius Caesar.


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NEW YORK (Jun. 16)
Estimating that there are "between 10, 000 and 14, 000" Arab refugees enlisted in the Palestine Liberation Army, which is dedicated to war against Israel, and that they were all receiving food and supplies from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Sen. Edward Kennedy reiterated last night his request that they be stricken from the UNRWA relief rolls. Speaking at a dinner here of the Brandeis University trustees, the senator said:
"It is incompatible with United States policy and with the fundamental concept of the United Nations to supply aid in any way to members of any army whose purpose is to work against a member nation of the United Nations." Sen. Kennedy, who is chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Refugees, cited also other "substantial abuses in the UNRWA operation" in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.
Ambassador Michael S. Comay, Israel's permanent representative at the United Nations, met for a half hour yesterday with U.N. Secretary-General U. Thant for a discussion of recent developments in the Middle East. Among the subjects brought up in the conference by Mr. Comay was the issue of the recruitment of Arab refugees for service in the Palestine Liberation Army and UNRWA aid to the recruits.


text: What could cause this error for one user on a particular machine, but not a different user? I am trying to submit from a compute node BRAIN. I have two users, BOB and JEFF. BOB can submit a simple test job from BRAIN, either to the default queue, or with various "-l" restrictions" and all works fine. JEFF cannot submit and gets the mentioned error. Both BOB and JEFF have similar UIDs. All ACL (users, hosts)_enable are FALSE. Has nothing to do with file permissions. Both BOB and JEFF can ssh to other nodes okay. Thanks for your help. -kenn lippert


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Stanmore's bowlers were unable to make a significant impression on hosts Hampstead's order as they fell to a six-wicket defeat in Division One of the Middlesex County Cricket League.
The visitors were put in and made a strong start, reaching 66 before Steve Mehra (26) was caught for the first wicket.
Fellow opener and top scorer Navin Samarakoon (41) was the next to fall but steady scoring throughout saw Stanmore reach 176, before tailender Mukesh Bhatt (12) was run out for the final wicket.
In reply, Hampstead saw Tom Lewis (18) as the first to fall having reached 44, caught by Tom Cullen off the bowling of Darshan Malde (three for 30).
However, fellow opener Tom Smith's fine knock of 85 not out led the home side to victory as they passed the Stanmore score for the loss of just four wickets in the 48th over.
Nicholas Goh (one for 34) was the only other wicket-taker for Stanmore who play host to Southgate on Saturday.
The club enjoyed better fortune on Sunday however, as they claimed a three-wicket success at Harrow St Marys in the ECB National Club Championship.
Electing to bowl, Chanmeet Kohli (four for 29) was the pick of the attack as St Marys were skittled for 162.
In reply, Tim Percival (46) fell agonisingly short of a half-century but his knock proved the catalyst to a successful chase, as Stanmore reached their target for the loss of seven wickets to claim the win.


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Though a defendant has the right to represent himself, when it comes to criminal prosecutions, police investigations, and negotiating with a district attorney, what you don't know can hurt you. For this reason hiring the right attorney for your defense is critical at the earliest stage possible of proceedings against you or a family member.
After an arrest , all defendants must be brought before a magistrate. The magistrate must inform the accused of the charges against him, his right to remain silent, and his right to an attorney. Bail may also be set at this time.
Bail is the court's assurance that a defendant will appear at all required court dates. A defendant must either pay money up front to be refunded should the defendant comply with conditions imposed upon him—a bail bond—or make a promise to pay a sum of money should the defendant fail to comply with such conditions—a personal bond. The amount of bail a court sets depends on several factors, including the circumstances of the alleged offense, the safety of the victim and the community, the financial resources of the accused, and the court's ability to be assured of the accused compliances with court orders. However, bail may be denied in cases involving capital prosecutions, a defendant with two or more prior felons, or if the defendant had previously committed an offense while on bail. Effective representation is necessary at this stage of the criminal proceedings to persuade the court to place a defendant under personal bond or to impose an affordable amount of bail. Or, counsel at this time may post an attorney bond, saving the defendant the need to hire a bail bondsman and much expense.
Defendants charged with felonies have a constitutional right to be charged through an indictment—a grand jury's formal accusation of the crime. Though a defendant may be represented by an attorney at this time, neither the defendant nor his attorney have the right to address the grand jury. A suspect may only address the grand jury with the prosecutor's approval or if subpoenaed by the grand jury. And though a suspect has no right to have his attorney present while testifying in front of a grand jury, a suspect may consult with his attorney outside the grand jury room before answering any question. He must also be warned of the suspected offense, the time and location of the suspected offense, and that he has the right to refuse to answer any question which may be incriminating. If subpoenaed by the grand jury, a suspect has the right to have an attorney appointed. A felony defendant may waive the right to a grand jury indictment and opt to be charged by information—the formal method of charging used for misdemeanor offenses.
Following formal charging, in all cases where the defendant's punishment may include a term of imprisonment, an arraignment is to be held. This is the defendant's first formal court appearance. The purpose of the arraignment is to hear the defendant's plea, and to appoint an attorney to indigent defendants, if desired. The arraignment is also the time to insure the charging instrument accurately names the defendant. This is the only time the defendant may claim he is not the person so named in the indictment.
A defendant may plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest to the charges brought against him. After a plea of not guilty, a defendant has the right to a jury trial to determine both his guilt or innocence and the appropriate punishment if found guilty. A guilty or no contest plea will waive the defendant's right to a jury trial on guilt or innocence. Generally, the punishment will then be assessed by the trial court with recommendations by the prosecutor based upon the agreement the defendant and prosecutor reached regarding the plea deal. The presence of an attorney at this phase of the criminal proceedings is necessary to negotiate with the prosecutor and to evaluate the risks of trial and the likelihood of success.
An experienced attorney can help at all stages of your defense—from persuading a judge to decrease bond or accept a personal bond to assuring your constitutional rights are scrupulously honored at police interrogations to noticing defects in charging instruments, and of course, to zealous representation at plea bargaining or trial. From the date of your arrest, the police and district attorney are building the case against you. The sooner you fight back and hire an attorney, the sooner she can start building your defense.
Criminal defense Felony crime Civil rights of defendants in criminal cases Criminal arrest Arraignment for criminal cases Felon rights Constitutional law
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It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Amazing! Sign our contributors' agreement and then join us on GitHub.
I can't enable SSLControllers with 2.1. At least it appears that way from the Dashboard. Continues to say "Enable". Are errors generated in a log?


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Researchers say lender-owned foreclosures could be causing neighbors too much stress.
Blacks and Latinos were more than twice as likely as comparable whites to receive such high-cost loans.
The fascinating historical reason why a quarter of the country's home loans are in some kind of trouble.
An unusual map shows the city's still struggling with a foreclosure rate of epic proportions.
With one of the nation's highest foreclosure rates, Atlanta thought it had found the perfect opportunity to build more parks.
Penn Hills, Pennsylvania's foreclosure woes have left it in deep trouble. At least two entrepreneurs are cashing in.
New research debunks this fear in 142 cities across the U.S.
Like every economic bulletin these days, this one comes with a catch.
Property taxes are still down, which means schools are still cutting staff. Will the teaching economy ever recover?
The city was a case study for the financial collapse; a metaphor for its causes. Four years later, is it showing the way forward?
Foreclosures and high employee compensation could add more cities to the state's string of bankruptcies.
For one thing, the rats move in.
New plans focus on adding transit-oriented and infill housing.
States are still struggling with foreclosures, but as new figures show, metro areas bear the brunt.
Who should be responsible for abandoned homes? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac say "not us"
A proposed Chicago ordinance would require security guards to be posted outside vacant homes near schools
Program aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods adds to problem of vacant homes
Stealing and reselling copper wire from abandoned homes is so yesterday
The threat of foreclosure still looms large in metropolitan Cleveland
Police put an end to a Georgia woman's elaborate foreclosure squatting plan


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The iCafe is a constantly changing platform for delivering the best technology integration professional development possible. In an effort to make our site even better we are migrating our resources to a new page. Please click the "Resources" link in the main menu to explore this new growing library.
Below you will find the old resource pages. While no longer maintained, we will keep these pages live to serve the thousands of users around the world who have linked to them.
Discription Here
Google Links
Category Two
Category Three
|other stuff


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NEW DBTN Podcast
Have you checked out the NEW Disney Parks Podcast at www.disneyparkspocast.com.
I recall the day Disney artist Casey Jones asked if he could show me something cool. Knowing Casey's involvement with other cool things (I'm looking at you, Dole Whip shirt), I immediately made time for him. When Casey arrived with concept art for new Orange Bird merchandise, I almost burst into song! He said these new items were being developed because the Orange Bird was returning to the Sunshine Tree Terrace at Magic Kingdom Park. We discussed how "The Florida Project" event last September served as inspiration for new merchandise.
"The Orange Bird played a key part of 'The Florida Project,' since the event was a salute to the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort," explained Casey. "We created Orange Bird pins and Vinylmation, and featured him in the event décor. At that time, we were unaware that Walt Disney Imagineering had plans of bringing the Orange Bird back to Walt Disney World Resort the following spring! We eventually worked with Imagineering to brainstorm new merchandise to commemorate his return!"
Casey explained that partnerships with Walt Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt and Steven Vagnini from the Walt Disney Archives were instrumental in creating these new items.
"Jason and Steven were outstanding partners," continued Casey. "Jason actually provided the artwork for the two tee-shirts and a deluxe print, and Steven provided a tremendous amount of reference material about the Orange Bird when we visited him in California."
The deluxe print Casey mentions is one of my favorite items. Jason combined the original concept artwork for the Sunshine Pavilion that was created by Richard Hebner in 1969 with original Orange Bird art he created for Walt Disney World Resort's newest attraction poster!
Casey also developed his very first ear hat, which is arriving this summer. It reminds me of the Figment ear hat we released last fall.
Jason shared his thoughts around the new Orange Bird merchandise.
"We wanted to add an extra layer of magic for guests visiting the Sunshine Tree Terrace," said Jason. "With the new merchandise, guests can now see the Orange Bird and take home a little memory of their visit."
With all this talk of the Orange Bird, I'm craving a citrus swirl! Who wants to join me?
The Swirl is back
With this week's happy announcement of the return of the Orange Bird to the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom Park, the original Citrus Swirl makes its official comeback too. Gone for more than a quarter of a century, it's nice to have them back where they belong for the 40th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort.
Who remembers that icy swirl of frozen orange and soft-serve vanilla ice cream, a duo of delish in the heat of summertime? There was a knock-off for a while at Aloha Isle, but this swirl is the original recipe, a sweet-tart tower in a cone or cup ($3.19 and on the Disney Dining Plan).
And check out the adorable orange bird sipper cup – for kids of all ages. Oh, Orange Bird and Citrus Swirl, welcome home!
The Official DBTN iPhone application "WDW DBTN FACTS" is now available for purchase in the iTunes store. It will be on sale for a limited time for $.99 only until April 30, 2012, then it will back to its normal price.
If you are planning a Disney vacation to WDW, Disneyland, Adventure by Disney or a Disney Cruise you must call the best Disney planners in the business
Kingdom Magic Vacation
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Get your Disney Application here
Sign up for the Disney By The Numb3rs FREE exciting Monthly Newsletter to get the latest news, facts and games.
Shop the Disney By The Numb3rs store and buy some great gear to support us


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To facilitate the reading of this, and other compound derivatives, a capital letter is placed at the head of syllables.
Whenever these words are used in this way they should begin with a capital letter.
The gum strip, bent round, assumes the shape of the capital letter T.
She must have a capital letter to do justice to her perfections.
Quotations, even though they are not immediately preceded by a period, must invariably begin with a capital letter.
Do not forget that the name of every month begins with a capital letter.
If the capital letter S were cut into two parts, and the bottom half attached to the top half, it would make a nought .
You already know that every sentence must begin with a capital letter.
Lady Maria knew that the word began in this case with a capital letter.
Come, Titania; you have wasted enough time in encouragement of art, with or without a capital letter.


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By Lisa Burns
Associate Professor of Media Studies
Betty Ford was one of the most outspoken and active first ladies in history, in spite of the fact that her tenure lasted just 2 1/2 years.
She attracted a lot of media attention by vocally supporting feminist issues including the Equal Rights Amendment and abortion rights.
What most people don't remember is that she also talked openly to reporters about undergoing a mastectomy at a time when breast cancer was something that people didn't discuss. She was credited for raising public awareness about breast cancer and was named one of Ladies' Home Journal's "Women of the Year" in 1976.
Following her White House years, she continued to share her personal struggles with alcohol and drugs. In founding the Betty Ford Center, her name became synonymous with recovery from addiction, leaving a lasting legacy.
Lisa Burns, associate professor of media studies, is the author of "First Ladies and the Fourth Estate: Press Framing of Presidential Wives" (2008). Members of the media can reach her through Jamie DeLoma, assistant director of public relations and social media, at 203-540-9399.
Categories: School of Communications
Tags: betty ford, first ladies, lisa burns, obituary, presidency


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Denzinger #1647 (Pope Pius IX "Singulari quadem", Dec. 9, 1854)
"For, it must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church, no one can be saved; that this is the only ark of salvation; that he who shall not have entered therein will perish in the flood; but, on the other hand, it is necessary to hold for certain that they who labor in ignorance of the true religion, if this ignorance is invincible, are not stained by any guilt in this matter in the eyes of God. ...
Denzinger #1677 (Pius IX encyclical, "Quanto conficiamur moerore", August 10, 1863)
"...It is known to Us and to you that they who labor in invincible ignorance of our most holy religion and who, zealously keeping the natural law and its precepts engraved in the hearts of all by God, and being ready to obey God, live an honest and upright life, can, by the operating power of divine light and grace, attain eternal life, since God who clearly beholds, searches, and knows the minds, souls, thoughts, and habits of all men, because of His great goodness and mercy, will by no means suffer anyone to be punished with eternal torment who has not the guilt of deliberate sin. But, the Catholic dogma that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church is well-known; and also that those who are obstinate toward the authority and definitions of the same Church..."
These quotes can be accessed on the following site: http://catecheticsonline.com/?p=184


text: HomeLaptop CasesApple Apple MacBook Cases If you have to use your Apple MacBook for work, it can quickly become scratched and damaged if you carry it in your bag with sharp objects. Get the best protection for your MacBook with Apple laptop cases from The Snugg, carefully designed to cushion your tech against bumps and knocks. We have a range of stylish and protective Apple laptop cases available, so browse our collection to find the best cover for you. Our line of MacBook cases is affordable and unique at the same time. These MacBook covers are completely compatible with your MacBook, and they offer a durable cover that you need to protect your delicate technology. When you look online at our selection of cool MacBook cases, the first thing you notice is our wide range of colors. You can order one Apple MacBook case for your laptop, or you can order a few different colors to give yourself options. What makes our MacBook cases so cool? They have the look and the feel of a professional portfolio, but the dynamic colors make these MacBook covers something really special. Our hard-shell cover is the perfect protective outer coating that your MacBook needs. To go along with the hard-shell covering, we also have a full range of wallet Apple MacBook covers that will give an extra layer of protection to your laptop. Our hard-shell case is made from a lightweight material and has all of the necessary cutouts you need to utilize all of your external ports. The protective wallet covers are made from leather and add a strong layer of durability to your Snugg MacBook cases. We always recommend that you get a hard-shell cover and a wallet case, especially if you travel a lot. If you want to retain the value in your MacBook, then you need to invest in the necessary protection for it. We all know what kinds of risks we take when we travel with our MacBook. Whether you are going across the country or across town, your MacBook is exposed to damage if you do not have the proper protection for it. The best MacBook case is the one made by The Snugg with your particular laptop in mind! Select an option below to get started> Choose your device MacBook 12MacBook Air 11MacBook Air 13MacBook Pro 13MacBook Pro 15 Choose your style Hard Shell CasesHard Shell Cases keep your laptop free from scratchesSleeve CasesLeather Sleeves are a great way to carry your laptop Popular Devices Snugg MacBook Air 13 Wallet Case in Black Leather $24.99 View Product Snugg MacBook Pro 13 Wallet Case in Black Leather $24.99 View Product Snugg MacBook Pro 15 Wallet Case in Black Leather $24.99 View Product Snugg MacBook Air 13 Wallet Case in Orange Leather $24.99 View Product Popular Accessories Snugg 2 in 1 Silver Stylus and Writing Pen $14.99 View Product Snugg 2 in 1 Black Stylus and Writing Pen $14.99 View Product Snugg 2 in 1 Red Stylus and Writing Pen $14.99 View Product Snugg 2 in 1 Silver Stylus and Writing Pen $14.99 View Product Tablet Protective Cases Nexus 7 Pink Case Stylish iPad Case Personalised iPad Case Protective iPad 3 Case iPad 3 Car Mount Smart Phone Protective Cases Samsung Phone Cases iPhone Case Wooden Galaxy S3 Case iPhone 4 Wood Case iPhone 5 Case Bamboo Popular Styles Slim iPad 3 Case Leather Tablet Cases Leather Cases for iPad 4 Brown Leather iPad Mini Case Red iPad Cases Trending Items iPad Mini Cases MacBook Pro Leather Case iPad Air Cases Nexus 7 Cases Kindle Fire HD 8 9 Cases


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EMC is to acquire Rainfinity, a network file virtualization software vendor, the storage giant announced Wednesday. The move is part of EMC's ongoing strategy to reposition itself as an information infrastructure company as laid out by the company's executives earlier this month at the firm's annual analyst day in New York. The move also fleshes out EMC's storage virtualization product portfolio.
The deal is valued under $100 million and will likely close by the end of this month, according to Jack Garrahan, EMC vice president and general manager of the company's Celerra business. EMC intends to operate Rainfinity as a separate business unit under the leadership of Howard Elias, EMC vice president, corporate marketing and office of technology, Garrahan said.
Privately held Rainfinity is based in San Jose, California, and has 60 employees. The company's RainStorage software virtualizes Windows, Unix, and Linux file systems across heterogenous network attached storage systems and file servers, making the disparate devices appear to be a single unit. The technology both simplifies management and makes it easier for users to carry out data migration.
"Our primary strategic reason to acquire Rainfinity is for RainStorage," Garrahan said, adding that EMC will also continue to invest in Rainfinity's other product, its RainWall high availability security software. He acknowledged that RainWall would likely have a place in EMC's previously announced plans to emphasize security across all its hardware and software offerings through existing products, acquisitions and partnerships. Exactly where that place will be for RainWall has yet to be determined, he said.
EMC plans to keep the RainStorage name for the remainder of 2005, but will re-evaluate the software's branding next year, according to Garrahan.
Rainfinity has over 50 customers, a mix of EMC and non-EMC users, according to the company's President and Chief Executive Officer John Schroeder. They include AT&T, Bank of America, Bayer, and Qantas Airways.
"This was the right thing to do at the right time for the company," Schroeder said. "At this point, our product is very mature," and Rainfinity needed the resources of a much larger company to help it aggressively go after a broader range of customers and win market share from its competitors, he added.
Rainfinity began life as a research project at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), which worked with NASA's (the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's) Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The original research to identify software building blocks for developing distributed applications was known as RAIN or reliable array of independent nodes. Rainfinity was spun off from Caltech in 1998.
EMC began reselling RainStorage earlier this year. "[While] there's definitely been a huge benefit in EMC reselling our product, you don't get the same level of commitment and resources" as a partner as Rainfinity hopes to realize as it becomes part of EMC, Schroeder said. There should be a new release of RainStorage in the fourth quarter of this year, along with a new application module for the software, which he declined to elaborate on.
EMC already has a product for SAN (storage area network) virtualization, known as Invista, which debuted earlier this year. However, EMC President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Tucci made it clear at the analyst day on Aug. 4 that he doesn't expect the storage virtualization market to take off until late 2006 at the earliest.
The company also confirmed the acquisition of the fixed assets and intellectual property of intelligent switch vendor Maranti Inc., but Garrahan wouldn't comment on what exactly EMC intends to do with the purchased technology. The expectation is that EMC will roll some of the Maranti software into Invista.


text: Next week marks two months since Tom Cruise last saw Suri. He had his lawyer contact Kneepads Magazine to assure them that this has nothing to do with Scientology and that it is all just a busy schedule thing. You know, movies and commitments that just can't be canceled. I agree that he is a busy guy, but when he was filming movies before he never went two months without seeing Suri. Ever. So, you can't start spreading some kind of spin that this is the way it has been in Suri's whole life because it has not been. Yes, Suri is in school, but the school she goes to specifically allows children to be able to leave when they want and not have to follow school vacation schedules because they all have rich parents who travel a lot. If they say it has nothing to do with Scientology, then ask them why every other Scientology family that has a broken marriage can never talk to the people who leave the church, but Tom will be able to? That is what ticks me off the most. I want him to say f**k Scientology, I want to see my kid and walk away from the church and let them reveal all his secrets and be cleansed. Star new. Stand up and man up and admit the philosophy is wrong and already cost two of his kids their mother for much of their life.


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Organizations by Area:
Find out how to list your local store, classes, event, attraction, etc. here, where thousands of homeschoolers look for resources in their state!
Stateline Homeschoolers
PO Box 392
Contact: Jenn or Michelle
Phone: 608-298-2279 or 608-239-1822
Email: email@example.com
We are a secular, inclusive group for homeschooler in and around Green County, Wisconsin. All religious paths and homeschooling philosophies are welcome.


text:
Good shampoo, good value
Verified Purchase
Good shampoo, good value
This is an economical size that goes a long way. Still has Sodium Laureth Sulfate thought.
Was this review helpful to you?
Good shampoo, good value
Posted by Reviewer2714436 on Apr 28, 2011 | Verified Purchase
This is an economical size that goes a long way. Still has Sodium Laureth Sulfate thought.
It's OK
Posted by Reviewer2263816 on Aug 29, 2010 | Verified Purchase
Decent shampoo, but I was hoping it would have the same lovely scent as their Hemp Lotion. It doesn't. It's pretty much unscented, which is desirable for some! Other than that, it's good for my thick hair. Don't like the conditioner, though.
Loving it !
Posted by rautavaara on Jul 02, 2013 | Verified Purchase
My scalp feel normal, no dandruff and my hair is looking good. I'm from Finland, so there is the winter effect. Meaning dry hair for the next 4-6 months.
The BEST shampoo
Posted by Reviewer1036290 on Dec 05, 2011 | Verified Purchase
I have tried MANY natural shampoos and have found Nature's Gate Hemp Shampoo to be the best, by far. My hair is fine, loosely curly, and tends to be dry and frizzy. This shampoo gives smoothness, shine, and eliminates the need to condition after every wash. Highly recommend it!
excellent product
Posted by Reviewer1502648 on Jan 14, 2010 | Verified Purchase
This shampoo makes my damaged hair so smooth and easy to comb, even before the conditioner.Loved it!
Product has Value
Posted by Reviewer2251071 on Apr 09, 2010 | Verified Purchase
I have thick fly-away hair that tends to frizz. My first use of the Hemp Nourishing conditioner had an immediate impact of silkiness through my hair which disappeared quickly after I dired my hair, so I'm a bit disappointed about that. But, my scalp felt cleansed, the frizz reduced and dullness disappeared. A good value for money product that has a pleasant mild scent.
Posted by Reviewer3332317 on Mar 21, 2010 | Verified Purchase
My hair turn so squeeky clean with this, and I love it. It smells good, calms down my irritated scalp, and leaves my hair soft, and you get a big bootle who will last you for months, for a really nice price.
Like it
Posted by 5690330469906011749 on Sep 27, 2016 | Verified Purchase
I like it but will definitely need to use the conditioner with this
Very good shampoo at a decent price
Posted by Reviewer1754180 on Jul 04, 2010 | Verified Purchase
I have not had any bad oder with my hair since I started using a hemp shampoo (2 years ago). I highly recommend this shampoo as the other company discontinued the other hemp shampoo I used to use. The low price of this shampoo also makes it a great buy!
Nature's Gate Hemp Shampoo
Posted by Reviewer2075568 on Apr 22, 2010 | Verified Purchase
The person I got this shampoo for says that it cleanses well and his hair does not get as oily with it as with some other shampoos. Thank you, for fast and reliable delivery.


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|Motor: 2 1/2 AMP, 120 Volt, 1 Phase
|Shaft Diameter: 1/2 in.
|Wheel Dimensions: 6 in. Diameter x 3/4 in. Thick
|Wheel Speed: 2,000 to 3,400 RPM
|Wheel Grit: 36 Grit and 60 Grit Wheels
|Cord Length: 6 feet
|Assembled Depth: 11 in.
|Assembled Width: 14 1/2 in.
|Assembled Height (not including light): 11 in.
|Base Dimensions: 7 in. Depth x 9 in. Width
|Tool Weight: 27.5 lbs. (Net); 31.9 lbs. (Gross)
DELTA will repair or replace, at its expense, and its option, any new DELTA machine, machine part, or machine accessory which in normal use has proven to be defective in workmanship or material, provided that the customer returns the product prepaid to a DELTA factory service center.Get more info on DELTA's Warranty
You will need a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view DELTA Manuals & Drawings.Download Adobe Acrobat


text:
Your current listing is shown below:
Covenant Baptist Church
1230 Northfield Drive
Clarksville, TN 37040
Phone: (931) 320-9730
Church affiliation: Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America
Church confession: 2nd London Baptist Confession (1689)
Contact: John Miller, Pastor
Web page: http://www.covenantbaptistclarksville.com
If this is the listing you want to change or remove, click UPDATE below to revise or remove the entry. You will be emailed a web link at your currently registered email address. Click on that link, and you will be taken to a form for updating the information. NOTE: You must be able to receive email at the currently registered address to update your listing this way.
If you no longer have access to the listed email address, please enter your current email address to receive a web link for updating your entry:


text:
A public outreach campaign to get input on the state's hurricane recovery effort generated a lot of response and a surprising degree of agreement, says an official who has been working on a rebuilding plan.
"There were some regional differences, but generally speaking, there were similar planning concepts," Robin Rather of Collective Strength, the company that has been analyzing data from the Louisiana Speaks survey, told Greater Baton Rouge Business Report.
The survey found broad support for coastal recovery, with almost 90% of every group supporting billions of dollars for restoration.
Attracting and retaining companies, along with better education and job training were also popular, Rather says.
Rather says the survey seems to indicate that people want to "stop the bleeding" before attracting new industry.
"There's a sense of wanting real change," she says. "People don't want to put the state back together the way it was before.


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Challenge Trail Guide
Need help organizing your ideas? Download this At This Moment Trail Guide to help you along the way.
Challenge Rubric
Use this Challenge Rubric to keep track of your progress.
Learning Goals
Teachers can view the learning goals and historical thinking standards this Challenge addresses.
Choose a Challenge
Challenge: At This Moment
The Task:
Your task is to identify a moment that was significant in Iowa history. Explore the people, places, events or ideas of Iowa. Find a specific event, idea or decision that was important. How did it influence the people and events of the time? Is this influence still seen today? Why or why not? How might this influence you personally?
There are four steps to your Challenge:
- Write a Question for Investigation
- Plan Your Research
- Analyze and Organize
- Publish and Reflect
Example Question for Investigation: How did one-room schools impact education in Iowa?
Print your At This Moment Trail Guide and get started.


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Jean harlow
Eksploruj powiązane tematy
Jean Harlow Clark Gable BOTH SO FUNNY AND BEAUTIFUL :)
Jean Harlow was present at the gala grand opening of the art deco Cinnabar Restaurant in December 1936
Jean Harlow - 1930 - Publicity still for Hell's Angels
Jean Harlow (1911-1937), 1930s. The first Platinum Blonde Bombshell of the Cinema. She lived fast and died young.
Jean Harlow. I've only seen her one movie so far (China Seas) but I want to watch more
Jean Harlow -- In my fantasy life I would wear this everyday! Love the feathers, the sparkle, the hair, just love! :-D
jean-harlow-color.jpg (713×900)
the original blonde beauty queen Jean Harlow 1930
Jean Harlow. Beauty, class, elegance...I miss "HOLLYWOOD"....
Jean Harlow - 1930's She used to get in trouble on the set because those long, satin gowns were very clingy and she refused to wear underware, so oftentimes, her public hair would show. It caused quite a fuss several times.


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30 Dec 2011
NOW 50% OFF ALL ACCESSORIES! GO TO: Accessories
30 Dec 2011
NOW 50% OFF ALL ACCESSORIES! GO TO: Accessories
26 Dec 2011
Merry Frank and a Dandy New Year to you all! The big winter sale is now open. 50% OFF ON MORE THAN 100 ITEMS!
Check it out now and buy your favorites before someone else does!
15 Dec 2011
We now give all our costumers free gift bags! Buy 1-5 items and get one free gift bag. Buy 6 or more items and get 2 bags for free.
Which one of the bags you will get with depends on what product you choose. If your order has most womens underwear in it you will get the more femenin gift bag and vice versa. Is the number of mens and womens items equal, it will be a random pick.
Offer valid till 25 December.
// Frank Dandy Crew
01 Dec 2011
Backstage on the making of the Swedish TV show "Stylisterna" where ten young fashionistas compete for a stylist internship at Sofis Mode, Sweden's largest fashion magazine.
Frank Dandy's underwear is one of the stylists challenges showing in spring 2012.
// Frank Dandy Crew


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Esther 6 - NIV
Mordecai Honored
Mordecai Honored
1 That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
2 It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
"What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?" the king asked.
"Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.
4 The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court."
"Bring him in," the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?"
Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?"
7 So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor,
8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'"
10 "Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."
11 So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!"
12 Afterward Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!"
14 While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Sermons on Esther 6
Where's The Love? Series
Contributed by Thomas Swope on Feb 2, 2016
A study of the book of Job 6: 14 – 30
Don't Be Fooled Series
Contributed by Archie Norman on Oct 8, 2015
When Will We Ever Learn Series
Contributed by Thomas Swope on Aug 26, 2015
A study of the book of Ester 6: 1 – 14
A Coincidence? Series
Contributed by Shawn Drake on Aug 19, 2015
This is the 6th sermon in the series "God Is Here". God knows what is happening.
Humility Or Humiliation Series
Contributed by True Neilson on Jan 29, 2015
Though God is never mentioned in this book, his fingerprints are all over the story of the heroic Esther and Mordecai. Study along as we discuss the ins and outs of living for God in a godless culture.


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Home > The Library > News Story
Farewell Class of 2014 from the College Librarian
Release date: May 22, 2014
"Congratulations to the class of 2014. We in the library have enjoyed working with you during your Goucher years, and are proud of your achievements. Those achievements inspire us every day! We'd love to have you stay in touch -- please check http://libraryguides.goucher.edu/aftergoucher for some ways to make that happen. Our very best wishes to you in your next adventures." - Nancy Magnuson, College Librarian


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Chris Moody, COO of Gnip, kicks off the conference with a talk about the social data ecosystem and introduces the Big Boulder Initiative.
At the beginning of of Big Boulder, Gnip COO Chris Moody, launched the Big Boulder Initiative — a way for industry leaders "to establish the foundation for the long-term success of the social data industry."
As Chris noted, Big Boulder isn't just a group of people coming together but the leaders of social data, one of the most important industries to develop in the last two decades. The attendees consume over 4 billion social data activities every day that ultimately serve 95% of the Fortune 500.
Chris asked attendees for the next two days to leave their titles behind and instead to think of themselves as the leaders of the social data industry. And as leaders they all need to think about where social data is going and how to address our collective challenges/
Big Boulder is only two days out of the year, so the Big Boulder initiative will allow the leaders of the industry to come together multiple times a year.
Chris outlined the five questions the industry is facing, and wants to hear what others are thinking as well. The issues were the following:
Return – How do we remove any remaining doubt about the value of social data? There are open-ended questions around consistency, bias and measurement that need to be addressed.
Trust – How do we build trust and understanding with the most important people in social media, the content creators?
Access – We're only able to analyze a fraction of the public social data that's out there. How can we get access to more data to improve our products?
Sustainability – How do we convince the world to make long-term investments in an industry that is so new?
Costs – How do we manage the growing costs to store, index and serve ever-increasing volumes of data?
For those that weren't able to attend Big Boulder but want to be involved in shaping industry issues, they can learn more at bigboulderinitiative.com.
Big Boulder is the world's first social data conference. Follow along at #BigBoulder, on the blog under Big Boulder, Big Boulder on Storify and on Gnip's Facebook page.


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Audi of America is launching Audi energy, a program it said is designed to help improve the Audi EV ownership experience and reduce the carbon footprint that comes with vehicle production, distribution and driving. Audi stated Audi energy will be available with the introduction of the first plug-in hybrid vehicle offered by the brand, the […]+ Read More
Audi announced today it has begun taking orders in Europe for its first plug-in hybrid, the A3 Sportback e-tron. The car combines a 1.4-liter direct-injected turbocharged gas engine and electric motor for 204 rated horsepower. On the European NEDC test cycle, the A3 Sportback e-tron's fuel consumption in accordance is 1.5 liters per 100 kilometers […]+ Read More
According to Audi, one of the strategic corporate objectives of the company is to develop technologies that combine driving fun with sustainability. The German company said it seeks solutions that strike a balance between individual mobility on the one hand and economy, ecology and the requirements of Audi customers on the other. Audi's answer comes […]+ Read More
Audi confirmed the A3 Sportback e-tron Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for the U.S. market at the same time it announced the arrival of the A3 sedan. Audi of America, Inc. officially announced plans March 26 for the arrival of the all-new 2015 Audi A3 sedan. Coming to showrooms in the first quarter of 2014, […]+ Read More


text: After a long day of Britney Spears insanity, I'm glad to see my constant vigil of Kelly Brook's vacation has hit the jackpot. Here she is sunbathing topless in St. Barts. It's almost like Kelly Brook knew I was having a rough day so she took her boobs out. She's a keeper. You hold on tight to that one, Billy Zane. And not just because you'll die old, bald and alone if you don't.


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Cron uses home cooking to bust slump
Angels prospect hits grand slam, drives in five runs for Travs
By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com | August 17, 2013 10:14 PM ET
C.J. Cron realized after the second inning of Saturday's game that he'd already collected five RBIs, but he had no intention of stopping there.
"I knew I had them, but it would have been nice to build on them," he said. "Five is good, but six is better than five; seven is better than five. I didn't get any more hits after that, but I guess I got them in early."
The Angels' second-ranked prospect delivered with a first-inning double and a second-inning grand slam in Double-A Arkansas' 9-3 victory over Corpus Christi.
"I'm just seeing the ball well," he said. "I'm coming off a huge slump, so it's nice to hit a few balls hard. It's nice to have them fall in gaps and it's nice to help the team win."
The 23-year-old first baseman is on a 6-for-8 tear over his last two games. But before the Travelers came home on Tuesday, he was 1-for-25 on a six-game road trip.
"It's kind of just one of those things," said Cron, a 2011 first-round pick. "My hands didn't feel comfortable in their position and I missed a lot of pitches that I usually hit hard. It's definitely been frustrating. When we got home, there were a few hits over a couple of games. I started to sense it coming back. Then, when Corpus came into town, it was working."
The five-RBI game was Cron's third of the season, with two coming against the Hooks. His forgettable road trip also included three games in Corpus Christi.
"I can't say I own them or anything," he said, "since I only got one hit at their place last series."
On Saturday, Cron slapped an RBI double to left in his first at-bat. When he came up with the bases loaded an inning later, the Travelers had a 3-2 lead. Facing Hooks starter Kyle Hallock, the University of Utah product worked the count to 2-2 before sending the next delivery over the center-field wall.
"[Hooks pitchers] have been mixing it up pretty good against me. And they've made mistakes against me, some I've been able to hit and some I've fouled back," Cron said. "I wanted to bust the game open, since it was early. We had a good crowd and I wanted to get them going."
The Travelers added two runs in the third to build a 9-2 lead.
"We put up nine in the first three innings," Cron said. "It would have been nice to add a few more, but the pitching staff did what they needed to do, got out of a few jams and kept us pretty far ahead the whole game."
Randal Grichuk, the Angels' No. 5 prospect, started Arkansas' scoring with a homer in the first, then tripled and continued home on a throwing error in the third.
"He's great. He's got lots of pop," Cron said. "They scored in the first and then he leads off the bottom of the inning with a home run -- that jump-starts our offense. He's been doing that all year for us. He's been crushing balls."
In the fifth, Grichuk caught a fly ball in right field and threw out Astros No. 10 prospect Domingo Santana, who tried to advance to the third.
"I saw him tag up a little late, I didn't think he was going to go," Cron said. "Grichuk threw the snot of it, and they got him."
Cron, who batted .293 with 27 homers to earn California League Rookie of the Year honors last season, raised his average to .277 with 10 homers and 69 RBIs in 119 games.
Santana finished 2-for-2 with a walk, while Hooks leadoff man Enrique Hernandez doubled twice, reached base four times and scored two runs.
Josh Jackson is a contributor to MiLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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Someone has finally answered Kanye West's call! Former Microsoft executive and current owner of the L.A. Clippers, Steve Ballmer, responded to one of the rapper's various Twitter requests on Monday.
RELATED: Kim Kardashian Snapchats Kanye West Jamming Out to Justin Bieber in the Car
"Steve Ballmer can I please redesign the Clippers mascot," West tweeted on Sunday, following one of his signature rants.
Steve Ballmer can I please redesign the Clippers mascot— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) March 13, 2016
Ballmer replied the next day with an offer to meet. "@kanyewest @LAClippers love Chuck but love your creativity. Lets talk. Lunch?" he responded, later suggesting the two catch a game. "Better than lunch. Let's grab a Clips game together and talk."
@kanyewest Better than lunch. Let's grab a Clips game together and talk— Steve Ballmer (@Steven_Ballmer) March 13, 2016
Naturally, West was very enthusiastic about this suggestion, quickly responding, "%1000 Steve Ballmer. Let's meet this week if you have time. I was hanging with Chris Paul last night."
RELATED: Kanye West Asks Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to Help With His $53 Million Debt
Paul is a point guard for the Clippers. Ballmer confirmed the meeting after West's response, writing, "@kanyewest Let's meet for sure. We'll reach out and make it happen. Looking forward to it."
@kanyewest Let's meet for sure. We'll reach out and make it happen. Looking forward to it.— Steve Ballmer (@Steven_Ballmer) March 15, 2016
Kim Kardashian's husband has been reaching out to lots of top executives recently, asking for from loans from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more.
MORE: Kanye West Will Join Instagram Under One Condition
"They are doing better than ever and are not having any problems at all," a source previously told ET of the couple. "They are so in love and Kim could not be prouder of Kanye right now."


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31st Annual Midwest Research to Practice Conference (MWR2P) in Adult, Continuing, Community, & Extension Education
University of Central Oklahoma
Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM - Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
Event Details
Please note: If you wish to pay with a credit card or by check, first select the ticket quantity you want of the category type you desire, then:
A. To pay by credit card, click on the row of credit card icons under the selection window and you will be taked to the Registration Information page.
B. To pay by check or at the door, click on the "show other payment options" and a "pay offline" button will appear.
For questions about registration, contact:
Eventbrite @ 1-888-810-2063 or
Ms. Karrie Terrell
College of Education & Professional Studies
University of Central Oklahoma
NEWS: Travel amd Schedule Information and More: http://www.uco.edu/ceps/events/mwr2p.asp
When & Where
University of Central Oklahoma
100 N. University Drive
Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM - Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 1:00 PM (CDT)
Add to my calendar