text:
Home > About FDIC > Publications & Documents > Discontinued Publications
Bank Trends
March, 2002
Number 02-03
Adrian Sanchez
(972) 761-2074
Houston's Downturn Comes Later but Will Linger Longer
Forces driving the U.S. economy in 2001 intersected in the Houston metropolitan area. After racing ahead of the national economy early in the year, Houston faced weakening energy prices, layoffs at computer manufacturers and airlines, the bankruptcy of Enron, and the most costly tropical storm in U.S. history. The many FDIC-insured institutions that conduct business in this market, especially the 58 institutions headquartered in Houston must adjust from a period of extraordinarily rapid growth to one in which the economic fundamentals seem to have changed.
Houston1 started 2001 with strong employment growth and a low unemployment rate, despite a national economy that was showing signs of slowing. High energy prices and a healthy housing market, spurred by low mortgage interest rates, were primary factors in Houston's robust economy. By late 2001, a number of factors began to take their toll on the Houston economy.
A principal reason why Houston's economy has deteriorated since mid-year 2001, and may lag the national economy in 2002, is the shift in the energy outlook. Despite some success in diversifying its economy since the 1980s, the energy industry continues to dominate Houston's economic landscape; the share of local economic activity attributable to the oil and gas industry remains near 50 percent2.
The Baker-Hughes domestic drilling rig count - a key industry indicator - which stood at nearly 1,300 in July 2001, fell 35 percent to about 850 by early February 2002 (see Chart 1). Energy firms are reporting lower fourth quarter earnings dampening the outlook for profits, and causing cutbacks in capital expenditures and exploration budgets. Soft demand for petroleum and natural gas-related products, the result of warmer than average weather and sluggish U.S. and global economic growth, is expected to continue to constrain energy prices3.
Secondary economic effects arising from a less than robust energy sector are affecting other industries such as construction, retailing and business services. These spin-off effects are expected to dampen Houston's total nonfarm employment growth rate this year, causing the metro economy to experience
Houston has also felt the effects of the slowdown facing computer manufacturers. Houston-based Compaq Computer Corporation laid off 3,000 workers in the metro area as a result of slow computer sales. Compaq's anticipated merger with Hewlett-Packard, if completed, could result in the loss of 15,000 additional jobs at the two companies, although not all the job losses are expected to occur in Houston4.
The decline in air travel in the wake of the September 11 attacks also affected Houston as Continental Airlines cut 3,000 jobs5. According to one study, the Houston metro area is expected to experience job losses of 29,000, mostly in travel and tourism, stemming from September 116.
More recently, the financial implosion of Enron Corp., the largest corporate bankruptcy ever, led to lay offs of two-thirds of its 7,500 Houston-based employees.
All of these events are affecting office vacancy rates. The Houston office market finished 2001 with a 15 percent vacancy rate, up two percentage points from the prior year7. Declining employment growth, possible negative absorption -- a decline in occupied space -- and new inventory being completed this year will likely put additional stress on this key ratio. The Enron collapse will add to this problem. The 40 story, 1.25 million square foot Enron Center will be completed this year and will add another three percent of office space to Houston's downtown market. Not only will Enron not be moving into this building, it also appears another 600,000 square foot building the company occupies may be vacated. Job layoffs and corporate mergers / relocations (despite additional jobs anticipated from the third quarter 2002 merger between Conoco and Phillips Petroleum that will be headquartered in Houston) will likely contribute to overall weakness in absorption. Collectively these events will likely put downward pressure on office rents as the office market softens.
Nature also played a hand in the Houston economy in 2001. Major flooding from tropical storm Allison damaged an estimated 3,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area in June 2001, including up to eight medical facilities affected by high water8. Damages topped $6 billion with insured losses of $2.5 billion - nearly 90 percent of the total losses for the storm occurring in the Houston metropolitan area - making Allison the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history9.
Collectively, the ripple effects of these events are spreading throughout the Houston economy. The Houston Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), based on a survey of 80 purchasing executives in key Houston industries, fell below 50 beginning in October 2001 and is now below the national index (see Chart 2). The PMI composite index is a leading indicator of the Houston economy, and readings below 50 are believed to signal a contraction in the metro economy over the next quarter or two. The Bloomberg Houston, Texas Index, a price-weighted index designed to measure the performance of the Houston economy, has fallen about 25 percent since May 200110.
The consequences of the slowing economy will present challenges to the 58 FDIC-insured institutions headquartered in the Houston metropolitan area. Lending to most of the large companies mentioned (Enron, Continental Airlines, Compaq) is from large banks outside Houston. However, area banks lend to employees, smaller businesses and proprietors that work for or are tied to these large companies and their industry sectors. Thus, there are also likely to be consequences affecting Houston's smaller institutions in 2002 and beyond.
Asset quality indicators, including delinquency rates and loss experience, are favorable compared to national benchmarks. However, lost jobs, failed or bankrupt businesses and defaulted contracts are likely to prolong Houston's sluggish economic performance and thus have a negative affect on asset quality and earnings.
Rapid loan growth introduces additional uncertainties. Loan growth over the past five years by Houston area banks (126 percent, merger adjusted) has far outpaced the nation's 38 percent. Many of these loans were made during a stronger economic period and have not been tested by a recession. By some measures, reserves have failed to keep pace with loan growth. Reserve coverage for all loans (1.06 percent) is far below the nation's 1.61 percent, although reserve levels, as a share of noncurrent loans, at Houston area institutions exceed the national benchmark (144 percent versus 129 percent).
Through the first three-quarters of 2001 the median return on assets for FDIC-insured institutions headquartered in the Houston metropolitan area was 0.85 percent, significantly below the national median of 1.00 percent. Preliminary year-end 2001 data suggest that performance of this group of institutions weakened further with a median return on assets of 0.66 percent. Financial performance has thus far been affected by tight interest margins and low fee-based revenues rather than loan-loss provisions. Provision expenses as a share of average assets for Houston area banks as of September 30, 2001 were less than one-third the average for all banks in the nation. Should asset quality deterioration materialize, a need for additional provisions would compound the earnings issues for Houston area banks.
About the Author
Adrian Sanchez is a Regional Economist in the Division of Insurance Dallas Regional Office.
|References to Houston in this Bank Trends are for the metropolitan statistical area and include the following counties: Chambers, Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller.
|"Diversification of Houston's Economic Base", Houston Business, September 2000.
|Standard & Poor's Industry Survey, "Oil & Gas: Equipment & Services", January 2002.
|"Enron collapse latest shock to Houston's economy," Forbes.com, January 29, 2002 (Reuters).
|"Continental to furlough 3,000 in Houston, cut back flights," Houston Chronicle.com, September 15, 2001.
|"The Impact of September 11 on U.S. Metropolitan Economies," The Milken Institute, January 2002.
|Torto Wheaton Research, 4th Quarter 2001 data.
|"National Flood Summary," June 9, 2001, National Weather Service.
|"Tropical Storm Allison, June 2001," Risk Management Solutions Inc.
|Source: Bloomberg.com, February 5, 2002.
|Last Updated 3/20/2007


text:
Jill Gemmill (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Wed, 12 May 1999 09:19:13 -0500
Here's the error message:
CC -o htfuzzy -L../htlib -L../htcommon -L../db/dist -L/usr/lib Endings.o Endings
DB.o Exact.o Fuzzy.o Metaphone.o Soundex.o SuffixEntry.o Synonym.o htfuzzy.o
Substring.o Prefix.o ../htcommon/libcommon.a ../htlib/libht.a ../db/dist/libdb
.a -lnsl -lsocket
Undefined first referenced
symbol in file
alloca ../htlib/libht.a(regex.o)
ld: fatal: Symbol referencing errors. No output written to htfuzzy
*** Error code 1
A quick scan through regex.c shows the following:
alloca is defined for AIX (doesn't happen: this is solaris 2.5.1)
furthur down: "Should we use malloc or alloca? If REGEX_MALLOC is not defined,
use `alloca' instead of `malloc'"
REGEX_MALLOC is obviously not defined, since we drop into the "else" section
# ifndef alloca
/* Make alloca work the best possible way. */
# ifdef __GNUC__
# define alloca __builtin_alloca
# else /* not __GNUC__ */
# if HAVE_ALLOCA_H
# include <alloca.h>
# endif /* HAVE_ALLOCA_H */
# endif /* not __GNUC__ */
there is no alloca.h to be found anywhere in this distribution. I believe we
use Sun's compilers rather than gnu.
Any suggestions on what to do here? (please reply to me directly as well as to
list). thanks.
Jill Gemmill
To unsubscribe from the htdig mailing list, send a message to
email@example.com containing the single word "unsubscribe" in
the SUBJECT of the message.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Wed May 12 1999 - 07:29:30 PDT

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nusa Dua, Indonesia (AFP) June 28, 2008
A conference in Indonesia on the international waste trade ended without breaking a 14-year impasse over the sale of hazardous waste across borders, the host's delegate said Saturday.
The five-day conference on the resort island of Bali ended late Friday with a coalition of countries again stalling the ban proposal, Agus Purnomo said.
"The problem is we have almost a dozen countries who are definitely against the ban amendment and they will not make a ban legal," Purnomo said.
Rich countries such as the United States and Japan have opposed amending the Basel Convention, which governs the international movement of waste, to produce the ban.
So far only 62 of the necessary 130 countries have ratified the proposed amendment, Purnomo said.
Despite little movement over the ban issue, conference delegates declared they had agreed to "contribute to a new momentum to achieve objectives (of the Basel Convention)."
Purnomo said the declaration was a breakthrough as it set the basis for countries to tackle the waste trade voluntarily through capacity building and recylcing programmes.
"This was the re-energising consensus that we were able to achieve in Bali," he said.
The issue of hazardous waste has taken on renewed urgency with the explosion in the number of mobile phones and computers, which has created new mountains of rubbish.
There are now three billion mobile phones in the world, conference organisers said.
Environmental activists have argued that tackling the emerging e-waste crisis is impossible without a ban, with countries regularly slipping past the current Basel architecture.
"The US routinely allows massive exports of toxic e-waste to countries it knows prohibit such importation," Jim Puckett from the US-based Basel Action Network said in a statement earlier in the week.
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Lebanon's oil slick cleaned but headache continues
Beirut (AFP) June 25, 2008
Two years after the worst oil spill in the east Mediterranean left thousands of tonnes of crude over three-quarters of Lebanon's coast, the beaches are almost all clean but the troubles continue.
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text:
Many people look on the transition to a greener society as being about changing values and behaviour. Although both of those things are obviously good, there is a danger that relying on them will lead us to ignore the realities of power and business.
There is already evidence of a mismatch between what people's values are and the actual outcomes which take place in society. This is because, while many people are focused on the enjoyment of living their own lives with family and friends, having time for leisure, their children, maybe nature, the people who tend to get on in the world and shape decisions in politics and business tend to have different, busier, more materialistic and less green, values.
It follows from this that a great deal of change would be brought about simply by bringing the operations of society into line with the existing values of its members, without any values shift being required at all. Rather than blame people for having the wrong values, perhaps we should more often be blaming social institutions for not enabling people to reflect the right values they have already.
Behaviour change is problematic too. If I go to a supermarket and want goods which are ecologically sound and have minimum packaging, I am likely to be faced with two choices. I can pay extra for greener products, reflecting the fact that customers are willing to pay more for them, regardless of whether they actually cost more to supply. Or I can leave the supermarket altogether, and find more specialist and minority outlets, such as health food shops. Both of these choices push green out to the margins, available to a minority who have the money and the motivation to seek out greener products, and that doesn't make it easy to be a green consumer: it practically guarantees it will be just another market segment and not the mainstream.
If I stop driving a car and rely on public transport instead, I may find, especially in a rural area, that so many people are driving cars that there is little revenue for the providers of public transport, and so the public transport provision is poor. Again, there is a problem of trying to make the right individual choices without the backing of the way society is organised in its goods and services, its infrastructure, its institutions.
We are all members of a society, with its shared physical existence in the form of products, buildings, city design, and so on, and in a social structure with its political and other forms of organisation. This is in contrast with much of the talk about values and behaviour, which is so often based on imagining a world in which there are separate individuals freely floating about, able to do and choose whatever they want. In reality, there are very few people whose lives are really like that.
This is why the roles of politics and business are crucial, and why we can't simply rely on individuals. Political choices determine, for example, whether we have a decent public transport system, enticing people out of their cars. Business choices determine whether retailers charge double for paper that is recycled, even though it costs the same to produce, and whether new plastic bags are offered to customers at every opportunity.
What does not generally work is government and business, instead of changing the decisions they make, simply using advertising to exhort people to behave in a greener way. That form of advertising becomes undermined by the sense of mixed messages sent out by government and business, such as the Defra Act on CO2 campaign being run simultaneously with plans for airport expansion, as well as being completely dwarfed by advertising which reinforces the other side of the argument.
Unfortunately broadcasters do not see advertisements as politically controversial – if they understood that they very much are, they would feel bound by considerations of political balance to give equal time to their critics and to firms with greener messages.
There are limits to what voluntary change of lifestyle and purchasing decisions can achieve. These derive basically from the limits to the power we each have over own lives, and many people don't experience much power at all. A simple model which works better as a way of thinking about these things is the triangle of change, with individuals at one corner, and then government and politics at another, and business at the third.
Then change is a matter of projects which operate with synergy between all three corners. That comes closer to reality than does the imagined world in which there are only free individuals.
Also in the 'good transition' series
• BRICS' emergence raises the environmental stakes
• Paying the price for a greener economy
• Addressing short-termism in government and politics
• Economic short-termism must be addressed
• Significant changes to infrastructure are required for a low carbon future
• EU initiative to promote resource efficiency
• Using land wisely is crucial for protecting ecosystem services
• Why the ecology crisis poses a threat to business as usual
Victor Anderson is One Planet Economy leader at WWF
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Become a GSB member to get more stories like this direct to your inbox


text:
I'm wondering if the italicized paragraph at the end should be removed, since the two situations aren't that similar. Q2's scenario was possible to win in the first place, he dumbed it down to make it easier. Kirk made an impossible-to-win program possible to win, he still had to win it. Since we don't know in canon what Kirk did to the program, it is a stretch to say that they are similar situations, IMO. 31dot 20:34, 2 October 2007 (UTC)
- I agree it should be removed.– Cleanse 09:04, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
Did so. 31dot 02:03, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
- For future reference, here's what was removed. --From Andoria with Love 06:54, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
- It should be noted that James T. Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru scenario in order to make it possible to win, and received a commendation for original thinking. Q Junior, who did essentially the same thing in this scenario, was vilified. This difference may be explained by the difference in purpose of the scenarios.
- For future reference, here's what was removed. --From Andoria with Love 06:54, 13 November 2007 (UTC)


text:
Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences and members of the Screen Actors Guild nominating committee received their first awards screener over Labor Day weekend: Jim Kohlberg's The Music Never Stopped from Roadside Attractions.
AWARDS SEASON START: Roadside's 'The Music Never Stopped' First Screener Sent
2 Comments
Must be a pretty shitty script if we didn't get it.
I paid for a ticket to see this film in the theatre and this film was excellent! I really enjoyed it. And it is one of the true sleeper films of this year.


text:
For Telephone help, dial ext. 6918
CALL PILOT # 337-7400 (for checking your voicemail messages)
EXPRESS MESSAGING # 337-7484 (directly leaving a message in a mailbox without having to listen to the message)
Dial the 4-digit extension number, also known as the Directory Number (DN).
Dial 9 and the telephone number. If the call is in another area code, dial a "1". For example, 9-1-609-234-5678, 9-1-800-123-4567, etc. Then dial your long distance authorization code.
You will be able to distinguish between an external call from an internal call. An external call rings "RING-RING-PAUSE, RING-RING-PAUSE", while an internal call rings normally, "RING-PAUSE, RING-PAUSE". If you do not answer a call, depending on how your set is programmed, the call may be directed to your mailbox or to another extension.
TRANSFER: You are on an active call and wish to send the call to another extension.
CONFERENCE CALLS (6-way calling): You are on an active call and wish to add another party to the conversation.
Note; If you do not receive a busy signal or no answers when using TRANSFER or CONFERENCE, depress the switchhook and you will be re-connected with the original caller(s).
CALL FORWARD (*2 to forward or #22 to cancel forwarding): If you will be away from your desk you can redirect your calls to another extension or to CALL PILOT (at extension 7400).
To cancel call forward, lift the handset and dial #22.
CALL PICKUP (*7): Some phones are in a CALL PICKUP GROUP, meaning you can answer a phone ringing in your area by lifting your handset and dialing *7.
LAST NUMBER REDIAL (*3): When activated, this feature will dial the last telephone number called from the phone. The maximum number of digits it will store is 16. Lift your handset and dial *3.
HOLD (*4): To place an active call on HOLD, depress the switchhook and dial *4. Hang up. You will hear a reminder ring every 60 seconds while a call is on HOLD. The call will stay on HOLD until you lift the handset
RING AGAIN (*5): You have dialed an extension and received a busy signal. Dial *5 and hang up. When you are called back, listen for 3 short rings. Lift handset and hear ringing. Wait for an answer and begin your conversation. To cancel ring again, pick up your handset and dial #55.


text:
Subject: Re: [htdig] 3.1.5 -- Limiting Duration / Resources for HTDIG
From: Gilles Detillieux (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Date: Wed May 24 2000 - 12:00:20 PDT
According to firstname.lastname@example.com:
> I am running into some situations where HTDIG appears to be going into an
> infinite loop. The pattern is that it either does, or does not, occur when
> searching a specific website; re-attempting the HTDIG--against the same
> site--usually produces the same result.
> Is there some straightforward way to limit the number of bytes which can be
> written into either wordlist or the log file; to ensure unconditional
> termination of processing once this limit is exceeded? (In practice, HTDIG
> is invariably still producing output when it's externally terminated; I
> haven't run into any instances of looping without producing output).
There's a server_max_docs config attribute that will limit the number of
documents htdig will index per server. However, you may want to run htdig
with one or more -v options to get some feedback on what it is doing on the
servers that seem problematic. It might give you some hints as to how you
can tweak your exclude_urls and limit_urls_to attributes to avoid indexing
certain branches on these servers that you'd rather avoid.
See http://www.htdig.org/attrs.html for descriptions of all these attributes.
-- Gilles R. Detillieux E-mail: <email@example.com> Spinal Cord Research Centre WWW: http://www.scrc.umanitoba.ca/~grdetil Dept. Physiology, U. of Manitoba Phone: (204)789-3766 Winnipeg, MB R3E 3J7 (Canada) Fax: (204)789-3930
------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from the htdig mailing list, send a message to email@example.com You will receive a message to confirm this.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Wed May 24 2000 - 09:48:57 PDT


text:
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On the basis of its trend and solid policies of golden rule of 'Success is a Team Sport, Together We can do it; Together We Will; we project that in terms of our financial growth we will become a US$10,000,000,000.00 (United Sates Ten Billion Dollars) company in net worth assets by the end of the year 2020. It is also projected that ALKARAM will complete its loop of business activities on petroleum activities including but limited to 'Exploration, Development, Production, Pipeline, Marketing, Storage Tanks, and Refining. The scope of expansion will not be limited to the boundaries of United States only, but it will encompass the territory of Canada. South America, Central America, South Western Europe, Indo-Pak Sub-Continent, Middle East, Far East, Malaysia and China.
Two Allen Center - 1200 Smith Street - Suite 1600 - Houston, Texas 77002 USA - Office 281-455-5815


text:
Could we get a picture of the fireworks going off in the sky after Harry casts the spell in The Goblet of Fire? —C Teng 20:22, January 11, 2010 (UTC)
At a previous date, 22.214.171.124 and 1337star decided to merge the Red Sparks page with this one. I have just merged the pages, but alas cannot rename this page to Red Sparks. I wondered whether, first of all, it would be suitable to delete Red Sparks, second, whether if we did delete Red Sparks, and third, whether or not I'll get in trouble for my edit. Thanks! :D Hunnie Bunn 15:02, April 9, 2012 (UTC)
Hunnie Bunn, ya fool, I let you a message about this on your talk page. MERGE THEM. They ARE the same spell and it is a waste of Harry Potter Wiki space to have Red Sparks and Periculum as two different pages. MrSiriusBlack (talk) 22:01, November 8, 2012 (UTC)
- I'm glad to see you chose to bring this topic back to the talk page. Also, the message you're replying to was before I un-merged them - that is, I'd already merged them but later decided it inappropriate for the purposes of the wiki - that is, I deemed that they weren't the same. Now, what exactly makes you think they're the same, apart from that they both emit red sparks? --Remember (Least We Forget) 22:37, November 8, 2012 (UTC)
- Since we're discussing this again, I'll point out that the Goblet of Fire film is a higher canon source than the video games (I believe one of those Verdmillious or Vertimillous or whatever spells from those is the only other contender here). And the video game spell isn't shown to be used as a signal flare, as both these spells are (if we assume that "Red Sparks" is representing the spell Hagrid has the detention goes use in Philsopher's Stone anyway). -- 1337star (Drop me a line!) 22:54, November 8, 2012 (UTC)
- That's true. And whilst you're right, I'll ask you: if Periculum is the red sparks, what's green sparks? That's why I wanted them to remain separate. It would make sense that Vermillious can't be red sparks since it wasn't used as a flare, but at the same time it does make sense that it and Verdimillious, green sparks, are taught simultaneously. --Remember (Least We Forget) 23:04, November 8, 2012 (UTC)
- Based on the information we have, I'm inclined to believe they're not one and the same. ProfessorTofty (talk) 23:08, November 8, 2012 (UTC)
- From what I can tell, there doesn't seem to be any consensus to merge these. Can we agree that they are to remain separate, then? ProfessorTofty (talk) 22:27, November 9, 2012 (UTC)
- I agree with keeping them separate until we have compelling evidence to suggest that they are one and the same. -- Seth Cooper owl post! 22:55, November 9, 2012 (UTC)
- OK, Periculum is Red Sparks, and it seems Hunnie Bunn stated above that Green Sparks is Verdimillious. Look at the picture, guys, Periculum being cast - what does the picture show? Red Sparks. Just reinforcing my point that they are - ah - one and the same. MrSiriusBlack (talk) 09:46, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- As I said on the other page, it does indeed show red sparks, but if you lose a brown horse named Pony and pick up one named Flower is it the same horse? No. All the same, community must do what is best for community. And if any user could open a vote I would do so myself, but since we can't... Despite the fact that currently more users support individuality of the two articles, if nobody has any direct opposition by Wednesday, 9 January, 2013 at 8 AM E.T. (or 12 Noon in GMT) then the two articles can be merged. Until that time please leave the articles as they currently are. Thanks. --Hunnie Bunn (talk) 14:32, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- Seeming as that patricular time you just stated, Hunnie Bunn, passed nearly a year ago, I think we can start on the merge now. ;)
18.104.22.168 15:22, January 6, 2013 (UTC)MrSiriusBlack (talk) 15:25, January 6, 2013 (UTC) (Forgot to sign in previously)
- Seeming as that patricular time you just stated, Hunnie Bunn, passed nearly a year ago, I think we can start on the merge now. ;)
- Nice catch ;) --Hunnie Bunn (talk) 15:38, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- Are you saying then, that you withdraw your objection, Hunnie Bunn? That the two spells are the same and they should be merged? It's getting hard to keep track. ProfessorTofty (talk) 17:05, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- I don't think it's hard to keep track, Tofty, seeming as the merge template has already gone up. MrSiriusBlack (talk) 18:02, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- Thanks, but I did not ask you, I asked Hunnie Bunn, and you were the one who re-posted the template. ProfessorTofty (talk) 23:11, January 6, 2013 (UTC)
- Watch your tone before you get yourself in trouble. MrSiriusBlack (talk) 09:14, January 7, 2013 (UTC)
- Watch your own before speaking. I don't see any way he could get into trouble for responding in a good manner by saying that he asked Hunnie Bunn and not you. You should be worried about trouble for interupting something not directed at you. --188.8.131.52 13:47, January 7, 2013 (UTC)
- Well, 126.96.36.199, You just interrupted something not directed at you! You just put yourself in the category of offenders known as Hypocrites. Until you learn to think before you speak, I strongly advise you not to leave messages on talk pages again. And In any case, the subject here should be to do with Periculum, not what users say to each other. MrSiriusBlack (talk) 19:44, January 7, 2013 (UTC)
- Well, Hunnie Bunn, looking on both talk pages, I see no - ah - direct opposition, so onwards and upwards I say, the time you stated has passed, let the merging commence? MrSiriusBlack (talk) 12:34, January 9, 2013 (UTC)
- But there is opposition, mine at least. We currently have no evidence that both spells are one and the same, really. We know of spells that have virtually the same effects (cf. Hover Charm, Levitation Charm, Floating Charm) and they are regarded, even in-universe, as distinct spells. Isn't equally likely that "Red Sparks" is Vermillious? Or a different spell altogether?
- Your argument that Red Sparks is the same as Periculum is nothing more than an argumentum ad ignorantiam: we cannot prove that they are different spells, ergo, they are the same. This is not how it works, unfortunately. We cannot prove that they are different spells, ergo, we shall neither infer that they are the same nor that they are different. That's why the two pages should remain separate; we'd just be erring on the side of caution, really.
- Besides, Pottermore has been known to use spells from the "Trading Card Game" in the past (i.e. Titillando or Colloshoo), so it's definitely possible that "Red Sparks" and "Green Sparks" correspond to "Vermillious" and "Verdillious", respectively. -- Seth Cooper owl post! 17:11, January 9, 2013 (UTC)
- I see that the matter has already been cleared up, but I feel the need to answer the question that was asked to me:
- Are you saying then, that you withdraw your objection, Hunnie Bunn? That the two spells are the same and they should be merged? It's getting hard to keep track.
- I don't mean to be argumentative or confrontational, especially seeing how this post is thoroughly unneccessary, but I don't think I would ever withdraw an opinion I'd made. I would accept change for the betterment of the community as I always have when such was required, but I'm afraid I'm far too proud and vain to remove my objections entirely. I agree, though, that it's a bit hard to keep track after a while. --Hunnie Bunn (talk) 22:13, January 10, 2013 (UTC)
Red Sparks and Periculum both state on their pages that they are the spell used in the triwizard maze- so how are they NOT the same spell? It is called Red Sparks in the books and Pottermore, and Periculum in the Movies. The arguments above don't make a lot of sense to me. I'd leave Vermillious and Verdmillous separate, as I believe they are only in the video games, and aren't shown being used in the same situation as Red/Green Sparks and Periculum. Green Sparks just doesn't seem to have an incantation mentioned for it. Decat (talk) 04:04, September 25, 2014 (UTC)
- In my opinion at least, Seth Cooper's last (most recent) post above is the best explanation for why it isn't done. It's pretty much that since we don't know they're the same we can't presume they are. --Hunnie Bunn (talk) 11:55, September 25, 2014 (UTC)


text:
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"How to Compare Mortgage Quotes between Online and Local Brokers."


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Submitted Game Reports
Send us your team's write-up (please ensure everyone's name is spelt correctly).
TNT, Clarington semi-final starts SaturdayPosted February 26, 2014
The TNT Midget AA and the Clarington Toros will open play in their OMHA semi-final series starting on Saturday at 5:45 pm at the NTRC in Alliston.
Game 2 is Sunday night in Clarington. The first team to secure six points, in the six game series, will advance to the finals against the winner between Orangeville and Windsor.
"We don't know much about Clarington, but we know they will be a talented hard working bunch just as we are," said TNT coach Scott Hutchinson. "You don't get to this point in the season by accident. We battled both the #2 seed in Richmond Hill and the #1 in Newmarket, and I expect our guys will continue to battle even harder as they get closer their prize. Our guys will be ready."
The schedule is as follows:
Game 1 Sat. Mar. 1: 5:45pm NTRC #1 Game 2 Sun. Mar. 2: @ Clarington 9 pm
Game 3 Wed. Mar. 5: 8 pm NTRC #1
*Game 4 Fri. Mar. 7: @ Clarington 8:30pm
*Game 5 Sat. Mar. 8: 6:15 pm NTRC #1
*Game 6 Sun. Mar. 9: 6:15pm @ Clarington
*If necessary


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Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area
- Free WiFi and free parking
Main amenities
- 184 smoke-free guestrooms
- Restaurant and bar/lounge
- Indoor pool
- Breakfast available
- Free area shuttle
- Fitness center
- 24-hour business center
- 24-hour front desk
- Air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping
- Arcade/game room
- Computer station
- Free WiFi and free parking
For families
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Refrigerator
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- Private bathroom
- Premium TV channels
What's around
- USS Constitution Museum (1.8 mi / 2.8 km)
- Bunker Hill Monument (1.4 mi / 2.3 km)
- Semitic Museum (1.8 mi / 2.8 km)
- Museum of Science (1.9 mi / 3 km)
- TD Garden (2.1 mi / 3.4 km)
Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Areafrom Rs11,314
- One Bed, Non-Smoking, Roll In Shower
- One Double Bed Accessible Smoking
- Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking (& SOFA BED)
- One King Bed, Smoking
- Room, Accessible
- Two Double Beds, Smoking
- Room, 1 King Bed, Non Smoking (Leisure)
- Room, 2 Double Beds, Non Smoking
- Junior Suite, One King and One Sofa Bed, Smoking
- Standard Room
- Group Rate
- One King and One Sofa Bed, Smoking
- Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Non Smoking
- One Double Bed Accessible Smoking
- Room, Accessible (Roll-In Shower)
- Standard Room
More great choices
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 184 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 9 floors
- Check-in time 4 PM-11:00 PM
- Check-out time is 11 AM
- Express check-out
Required at check in
- Credit card deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 21
Travelling with others
- Up to 3 children (12 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- Pets not allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi and wired Internet access in rooms
- Free self parking
- Free RV/bus/truck parking
- Free area shuttle within 3.00 mi
Other information
- Smoke-free property
Nearby Three Star Somerville hotels
In the hotel
- Full breakfast daily (surcharge)
- Restaurant
- Bar/lounge
- Room service (during limited hours)
- Indoor pool
- Fitness facilities
- Basketball on site
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Golfing nearby
- Arcade/game room
- Billiards or pool table
- 24-hour business center
- Number of meeting rooms - 7
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms 7
- Conference space size (feet) - 10000
- Conference space size (meters) - 929
- Computer station
- 24-hour front desk
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Luggage storage
- Multilingual staff
- Porter/bellhop
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built 1973
- Elevator/lift
- ATM/banking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Television in common areas
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
In the room
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Coffee/tea maker
- Iron/ironing board
- Pillow menu
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Turndown service
- Premium bedding
- Pillowtop mattress
- Private bathroom
- Deep soaking bathtub
- Hair dryer
- 37-inch LCD TV
- Premium TV channels
- Desk
- Free newspaper
- Free WiFi
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Microwave (on request)
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Top Somerville hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Somerville
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"This is a perfect place for students. A 5-min walk from Boylston station, it is easily accessible too. The staff are extremely nice and friendly."Dec 8, 2016
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Special features
DiningDRAFT - This restaurant specializes in American cuisine and serves breakfast, dinner, and light fare. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. A children's menu is available. Open daily.
Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area's small print
Also known as
- Boston Holiday Inn Bunker Hill
- Holiday Inn Bunker Hill Boston
- Bunker Hill Holiday Inn
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area Hotel
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area Hotel Somerville
- Holiday Inn Boston Bunker Hill Area Somerville
- Holiday Inn Bunker
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Children under 18 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool or fitness facility without adult supervision.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
Mandatory fees
Deposit: USD 50.00 per night
Optional extras
Rollaway beds are available for USD 10.0 per night
Breakfast costs between USD 10 and USD 15 per person (approximately)
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


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HPI Racing 3x8mm Binder Head Screw (10)
HPI Racing
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This is a pack of ten replacement 3x8mm binder head screws for the HPI Hellfire Monster Truck.
This product was added to our catalog on May 12, 2006.


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I would like to hire an Illustrator
Bajet $250-750 USD
We are working alongside a pharmaceutical company who are hosting a client workshop next Tuesday (March 28th).
We are looking for a BARCELONA based illustrator to be on site, at the Hilton Diagonal Mar Hotel next Tuesday, to illustrate ideas that result from discussions.
The illustrations would need to be created on site and live with the opportunity for attendees to take these home with them for further understanding and learning.
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text:
by Sam Collins | December 1, 2008 12:46 pm
Abbott Laboratories (ABT[1]) — This healthcare company develops, manufactures and sells products worldwide and has been in a bull market for more than 20 years.
However, ABT has spent this year in the narrow trading range of $48 to $60 while earnings have continued to improve.
The healthcare sector is considered to be defensive and ABT[1] is generally regarded as a leader of the group. The target for current purchases is $60 and S&P has a 12-month target of $65.
Get Sam Collins' Daily Trader's Alert[2] e-mailed straight to your inbox each morning before the opening bell absolutely FREE!
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Click here today to sign up today for Sam's FREE Daily Trader's Alert![3]
Sam Collins is a registered, fee-based portfolio manager who may be contacted firstname.lastname@example.com[4]. You can also check out an archive of some of his most recent market outlooks by clicking here[5].
Source URL: http://investorplace.com/2008/12/12-01-08-abt/
Short URL: http://invstplc.com/1nIv2Z7
Copyright ©2017 InvestorPlace Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 700 Indian Springs Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601.


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Previous Episode | Next Episode
Spalding In The Family WaySpalding In The Family Way (2000) Season 1 Episode 113- Quads! Cartoon Episode Guide by Dave Koch
This page has been viewed 19 times this month, and 398 times total.
- Quads! Cartoon Episode GuideEpisode GuideTelevisionSeriesCartoon
- Traditional Animation
- Nelvana Limited, Media World Features Pty. Ltd., ScreenWest Inc, TeleToon, Special Broadcasting Service Corporation
- Animation Studio: Animation Works
- Cartoon Characters: Reilly, Blazer, Fontaine, Lefty, Spalding, Griz, Deborah (Debbie) Golden, Franny, Mort Bromberg, Liz Bromberg, Sister Butch Johnson, Ricky, Rich Jamaican Guy.
- Voice Actors: James Kee, Terri Hawkes, Matthew King, Cliff Saunders, Paul Haddad, Hamish Hughes, Diane Fabian, Marvin Kaye, Maurice Dean Wint; Full Voice Cast ...
- Directed By Chris LaBonte, Steve French, Kevin Colbourne.
- Produced By Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert, Clive A. Smith, John Tatoulis, John Callahan, Deborah Levin, Judy Malmgren, Stephen Hodgins; more Producers ...
- Animated By Marc Sevier, Jeff Astolfo, Jeffrey Size, John Mahovlich, Faruk Cemalovic, Ron Kilbride, Shawn Seles, Dean Montgomery, Ann-Marie Denham, Richard Anthony, Marcus McKebery; more Animators ...
- Written By Anthony Watt, Brendan Luno, Andrew Nicholls, Darrell Vickers, Todd Thicke.
- Music: Steven Hudecki, John Clifford White.
- First Aired about 2000.
- Originally Aired on Teletoon (Canada), SBS.
- Running Time: 30 minutes.
- Episode Number: 113
- Season: 1
- Color
- Canada / Australia
Cartoon Summary:
Spalding's parents are visiting from Australia, throwing Spalding into a tizzy. He's never gotten along with his dad, and he's never told them that he's gay! Griz has his own problems: the health inspector is coming to check out his bar. Franny agrees to pose as... (more)
Cartoon Production Information:
Produced entirely with Flash animation. Cartoonist John Callahan, the creator and executive producer of this black comedy, was himself paralyzed by a car accident at age 21. With animators in Toronto, Melbourne and Perth able to access materials from... (more)
Cartoon Video:
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Submit Additional Information:
Do you have anything to add to this page? Have we made any mistakes... or do you have any additional information about Spalding In The Family Way? If so, we would love to hear from you. Please send us a quick note with your additions or corrections to this page, and we will make the corrections as soon as possible!
Cartoon Comments:
Do you love Spalding In The Family Way, or do you think it is the worst cartoon ever? Let us know what you think! Surely you have an opinion... so share what you think. Take a minute and post your own comments about this cartoon here.


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I have a staph infection and am currently taking bactrim for it. Is it safe to have sex after being on the antibiotics for a week? The wound is under my arm and has opened to drain. I have been taking the antibiotic for a couple of days now. If the wound is not draining anymore in the next few days and I continue taking the antibiotics, will it be safe to have sex?READ MORE
Can a staph infection be transmitted through sex?
I know it has been a while since you posted, but I was wondering how you are doing. Did you ever get the opportunity to ask a doctor about this? I am not a doctor and can't diagnose you, but I think as long as you limit contact with the infected area, your partner should be fine. The other poster is right, too; make sure you use protection if you are on birth control, as antibiotics can affect them.
Please consider returning to the community to let us know how things are going. I'm sure your experience could be a great help to others!
Best of luck,
Top Ten Sexual Health Resources
Denise, make sure your wound is covered with an antibacterial cream and gauze taped over it when with your partner. (Second), if you are on B/C of any kind do not have unprotected sex, make sure he uses a condom. Most antibiotics render B/C of no use. So in other words if you have sex even though you are on B/C you may easily get pregnant while taking an antibiotic....READ MOREYou should know Answers to your question are meant to provide general health information but should not replace medical advice you receive from a doctor. No answers should be viewed as a diagnosis or recommended treatment for a condition. Content posted by community members does not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media, which also reserves the right to remove material deemed inappropriate.DISPLAY TEXTLINK URL
Most PopularKnowledgeHepatitis C Terms to KnowProtectionStopping the Spread of Hepatitis C


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|Front Page | In Depth | World | Science/Nature | Development summit news
Alternatives to oil
Solar power is often used to power calculators and other electronic accessories. Solar panels � made up of photovoltaic cells � are also sometimes used on roofs to provide electricity to households
How it works
The properties of materials called semiconductors mean they can be arranged in a way which causes an electrical current to flow when light is shone on them.
In a photovoltaic cell, two different types of semiconductor are layered together. Typically, the atoms on one side (n-type) have a single electron in the outer shell. The atoms on the other (p-type) are one electron short of a full outer shell. When the two layers are placed together, electrons move from the n-type side to fill the �holes� on the p-type side. This creates an electrical field at the junction between the two layers.
Once set up, this electrical field effectively creates a barrier to more electrons trying to move from the p-type side to the n-type side. When light shines on the whole cell, it knocks electrons free from their atoms. But the charge at the junction causes all the free electrons to build up in the n-type layer.
If an external electrical circuit then bypasses the junction, the electrons flow through it as a current.
Engineers are now working on ways to develop large-scale solar plants to produce hundreds of megawatts at a time.
|Back to Top
| © MMV | News Sources | Privacy


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Keeping your social networks healthy and flourishing as the years go by can help you stay healthy, too – both psychologically and physically.
Retirement is personal and full of surprises. Decide what you want yours to look like first, and then plan how to make it a financial reality.
Thinking of selling your home as retirement nears? Do you buy again, or rent? The decision is about more than the money, say these experts.
August 05, 2016
6 snowbird travel tips
Planning to be a snowbird this winter? Whether you're a newbie or a veteran, here's some helpful daughterly advice.
July 04, 2016
Downsizing your home: Why location matters
Thinking about downsizing? Consider your health as well as your wealth.
February 18, 2016
Top 10 tips for a happy retirement (Infographic)
Hoping for a happy, successful retirement? Take this advice from Canadian retirees, from the 2016 Sun Life Retirement Now Report.
February 17, 2016
Retirement now
Ever wonder how much money Canadian retirees have to live on, what they're spending and how they feel about retirement? Now we know.
November 02, 2015
Healthcare shockers that threaten your retirement
Nothing can derail retirement plans faster than unexpected health issues. Here are four — and what you can do to avoid them.
October 20, 2015
Want something new for dinner? Try a picnic
Picnics can be practical and easy to arrange, especially when travelling. You don't need the big picnic basket, checkered tablecloth or bulky cooler.
October 19, 2015
Starting over after a late-life divorce
Ending a marriage when you're past 55 presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to your personal finances.
Registered retirement income fund (RRIF)
Make well-informed decisions with helpful advice. Talk to your advisor or find one near you - there is no cost to talk to an advisor.


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Techno tots
Page Tools
Don't bother asking for a Barbie B-Bright Laptop in anything other than pink. That's the colour it comes in. And don't bother trying to see the logic in this - a pink computer is a beautiful thing in the eyes of most three-year-old girls, and that's all that matters.
Get over the colour and, for your $99, you get a device that looks like a miniature laptop and features 10 preschool activities such as recognising letter shapes and sounds and matching shapes.
"When they see Mummy and Daddy working at home on their own PC, they want to get involved," says Rachel Corr, product manager for the Barbie B range at manufacturers Oregon Scientific. "This introduces them to the concept of their very own PC."
To the sophisticated adult eye, this little gadget with its tiny monochrome screen looks pretty basic, but to Oregon Scientific it's a cutting-edge product in an increasingly tough battle among retailers for the hearts and minds of children and their parents.
Sales of electronic "learning aids" to pre-schoolers have gone through the roof in recent months.
In 2000, according to analysts GfK, the Australian market was worth $3.5 million, but figures for 2004 show sales have ballooned to more than $28 million.
Distributors such as Mattel (Fisher-Price Power Touch Learning System, Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home) and Modern Teaching Aids (Vtech V-Smile Console) are clearly pushing to have their "pre-PCs" under as many Christmas trees as possible.
However, as far as these distributors are concerned, the company to catch is the American manufacturer LeapFrog, which bounced onto the scene in mid-2002 and has quickly established a position of dominance. LeapFrog has the entire preschool market covered, starting with the LittleTouch LeapPad, aimed at children from six months, through to the Leapster Multimedia Learning System for children between four and 10.
LeapFrog heavily emphasises the educational value of its products, claiming they can help with letters, phonics, rhyming, spelling, numbers, counting, addition, subtraction, art and music.
And Australian parents are being convinced, says Robert Vasy of Funtastic, which sells the toys here.
"Preschool is the biggest growth area," he says. "Parents are buying their children items in that area to cash in on the educational value. Mothers are wanting their children to learn and be educated at a younger age."
Vasy says his products have plenty of advantages over traditional teaching tools such as books, even keeping children occupied while parents get on with other tasks.
"The children can interact with the unit on their own, and that's obviously important with parents being busier," he says. "If the child can't read and the parents are not there, then the book becomes useless. In this case they can play with it alone."
But not everyone is convinced the steady march of computers into the preschool market is a good thing.
One such person is the Melbourne psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg, who has a particular interest in the area.
"Quite clearly, these parents feel guilty if they don't provide their children with the latest mod cons and that is ludicrous," he says.
"The most important task of parents in 2005 is to remain emotionally in touch with their children (and) it's very difficult to do that with the proliferation of electronic babysitters. I think, possibly, one of the most odious of these is the pseudo-games that populate their bedrooms. I actually worry a great deal about the time they are spending on these devices."
Carr-Gregg concedes that there may be some educational value in these gadgets, but only if their use is supervised and monitored by an adult.
Jane Roberts, president of lobby group Young Media Australia, shares many of Carr-Gregg's concerns and says the pressure placed on parents by some marketers is unfair.
"There is a huge marketing and advertising campaign directed at children and also at the parents saying: 'You have to give your kids a head start with this stuff and if they don't know how to use a computer by the time they start school they will be at a disadvantage'.
"The marketers are very clever. They say: 'Parents, it's not safe outside for your children. Have them happily amused in your lounge'. It plays on parents' fears that local communities, parks and playgrounds are no longer safe; but put them in front of a screen and you'll know what they're doing."
Roberts also questions what educational advantage there is in introducing children to computers - be they in the form of dedicated educational toys or the family's desktop PC.
"In those preschool and early childhood years, the best way children learn is by direct experience," she says. "So, rather than having them trace dots on the computer with a mouse, make sure you have lots of paper and crayons around to show them the importance of print.
"When you take that direct experiential opportunity away from children and put it onto a machine eventually they will learn - but at what cost?"
But the fact is that information technology is here to stay - whether we like it or not. Harking back to halcyon days when young children spent their time exclusively in "wholesome" pursuits such as climbing trees and swimming at the beach, is not the answer - something even critics such as Roberts freely concede.
Technology is ingrained in our children's lives to the point that their facility with computers and other devices often astonishes parents and teachers.
Susan Hill is an associate professor of early childhood education at the University of South Australia and has just completed a three-year study into technology and the education of young children.
Part of the study involved a group of teachers conducting a "technotour" of children's homes; examining the technology to which their pupils had access.
"The teachers were amazed at the amount of hardware and software among the four-year-olds," says Hill. "The children are born immersed in technology."
Hill found that children would naturally gravitate to a computer in, say, a preschool. But hearteningly, they tended to use the machine, talking about what they were doing, together with, say, a paint program, rather than it being a purely solitary activity.
For Hill and many other educationalists, there is nothing inherently "bad" about computer technology versus books, but the key factor is how each is used.
Toni Downes, a professor of education at the University of Western Sydney, says computers are just one of "the many communication and information technologies that populate kids' worlds".
"If an exhausted mother came home from work, picked up the two kids, and day after day sat them in the bedroom and said, 'You've got to read books while I do the housework and ignore you', that would be as unhealthy as being dumped in front of the TV," she says. "There's nothing inherently good about books."
Downes says children learn by imitating adult behaviour, which is why toy shops will always do a brisk business selling toy kitchens, plastic lawnmowers and imitation telephones.
"We've always given kids toy versions of the tools adults use so, conceptually, there's nothing wrong with creating a baby computer," she says. "However, the marketing mantra of 'Get your kids involved with computing and you'll secure their education and their future' is totally misleading and places undue pressure on parents."
And it's easy to understand how marketers exploit the confusion and guilt of parents. What parent, given the money, wouldn't spring for any amount of computer gear if they thought it would give their children an edge in a technology-saturated world?
The sensible answer to this 21st-century dilemma, according to many educationalists, psychologists and technologists, is to take a balanced approach. Clearly, if a young child is spending a lot of his or her time in front a screen on their own, they are missing out on a range of activities grouped under the heading "socialisation".
"What they are not doing [by spending too much time at a screen] is engaging in social activities with other children," says Roberts. "They're also not being physically active and creating and imagining their own play."
Downes agrees it is up to the adults in a child's life to monitor that balance - as well as keeping a close eye on the content to which they are being exposed.
"It's not so much the technology," she says. "Kids can't have too much of computers too early, but they can be exposed to too much advertising too early or too much popular culture. It's more about the substance of the experience they are having."
If an adult stays involved with the child's computing experience and ensures appropriate content and balance, "you might as well start at one week old", says Downes.
Of course, you can direct, coax and nurture all you like, but kids - especially young ones - can be contrary little critters and usually have a very firm idea in their own mind about what they want to play with. So, if you want to avoid making an expensive mistake this Christmas, you'd also do well to consider closely the personality of the youngster you're buying for.
"You've got to think about the particular child you are buying for," says Hill. "If you have a really active child that likes to go on adventures and likes to be outside digging and finding caterpillars, that child's language development would probably increase more if you gave him or her a book on caterpillars rather than a little toy computer that they won't be bothered with.
"Children choose what they really want to learn with - every parent has piles of toys that have been discarded."
No small change
Growth in the pre-school electronics category has been explosive in the past few years, according to industry analyst GfK.
The debut of LeapFrog's new LeapPad system in July 2002 sparked huge interest from rival manufacturers such as Fisher-Price and Vtech, who rushed their own new products to market.
Between them, Fisher-Price, LeapFrog and Vtech account for 93 per cent of the category, which has racked up sales of more than $28 million this year.
When it comes to older children, the electronic learning aids category is nowhere near as lucrative, bringing in less than $4 million up to October this year.


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The Sunnyside Unified School District decided to cut truancy officers and middle-school instructional coach positions, but spared the Ocotillo Early Learning Center from any cuts.
The district Governing Board approved the cuts at Tuesday night's board meeting, held at Sunnyside High School, 1725 E. Bilby Road.
Sunnyside will reduce instructional coach positions at middle schools from 10 to five and will likely reassign the two truancy officers.
The district was seeking to close a budget gap projected to range from $3.2 million to $4.6 million.
In the last couple of months, the Governing Board voted to cut 18 teaching positions, shut down the district's Family Resource and Wellness Center and reduce overtime pay for police officers, as well as other cuts.
The first round of reductions was expected to save the district $3 million.
District officials expected Tuesday night's cuts to save the district about $394,000.
Sunnyside still wanted to cut at least another $1 million entering Tuesday night's meeting.
More cuts will be needed, but it wasn't clear after Tuesday's board meeting where those reductions would occur.
Numerous staff members who work at Ocotillo, as well as parents, attended the meeting to support the facility.
Many of those people held signs and showed support for the center during the call to the audience.
District officials had recommended cutting teachers and instructional aides at the center, as well as reducing the Parents as Teachers program and eliminating the Family Literacy program.
Students who receive services for speech impairment would have still received treatment but would not have been able to attend the regular preschool program for free.
The audience applauded when the board decided to take the preschool off of the list of possible cuts.
Some of the board members were adamant in their decision to prevent reductions at the center.
Board member Daniel Hernandez Jr. said cuts to the center could have a long-term effect on the community.
"These are things where we will have to deal with the repercussions for decades," he said.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at firstname.lastname@example.com or 573-4115. On Twitter: @JamarYounger


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Socialist Dictator Hugo Chavez has seized private businesses in Venezuela and many Venezuelans are fleeing the country, yet BusinessWeek magazine found a silver lining:
"In some respects, business has never been better," claimed Geri Smith in the June 25 issue.
Smith quoted Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce President Edmond J. Saade who said:
"It's a bit like the … French Revolution. Power to the people, death to nobility."
Smith's claim that business has never been better even ignored the Venezuelan businessman she quoted in her story. The businessman who didn't reveal his name out of fear said "his company has shrunk to just 100 employees from 300 since Chavez came to power in 1999, and sales have fallen by half."
It also ignored the fact that stealing assets harm those people who no longer have control of their own properties:
"Chávez has already forced global oil giants, phone carriers, and power companies to hand over control of key assets. Now he says he might nationalize banks, hospitals, and steel companies," Smith wrote.
The media have had a bizarre fascination with the Venezuelan dictator over the last few months, as the Business & Media Institute has documented. BusinessWeek managed to put a new spin on it by suggesting Chavez's ways are partly good for business.
Smith also praised the way Chavez stole oil revenue and spend $13.3 billion on redistributing wealth, and left out the negative impact on poverty and human rights that the dictator has created.


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Well maybe not everyone but there were quite a few gamers that owned the just discontinued Sega Dreamcast and purchased Alien Front Online. This game was probably one of the worst launches in history as far as picking up any momentum from the publisher. The Dreamcast has been discontinued about half a year prior to Alien Front Online being released and offered free to play on on-line servers. Sega didn't help the matter when they, later, changed those free to play servers to "pay to play" ones which hurt the player base enjoying AFO. Good job Sega.
If you are not familiar with Alien Front Online, don't worry you are not alone, it is an online 3D shooter for up to eight players. This was accomplished on a 56k modem (or with the ultra rare broadband adapter) by having up to four players on each console and connecting to the other players on another console through the Internet. It was not true eight player on-line like we know it today but for the time, it was revolutionary and quite fun.
There was a limited single player mode available for players to familiarize themselves with the controls and how Alien Front Online played. This mode was quite limited as the game was intended to be played online (hence the name).
Online play was set in arenas with players taking the role of either human combatants or alien invaders. Rounds were played for a set number of minutes and required everyone to defend themselves and be on the offensive while trying to find supplies scattered around the level. As usual for this type of game, the side with the most kills when the timer runs out, wins.
Sega really messed up the launch, and support, for Alien Front Online. First, they discontinue support for the console six months earlier. Then they release this online game with free to play on servers but later change those to a pay model that turned off a lot of players. Then they don't allow players an easy method to play on-line afterwards (such as opening up their networking protocols). No wonder support for Sega was at an all time low around this period of history.
Alien Front Online hit the Sega Dreamcast on August 9th, 2001. There was never a Japanese release of AFO so this is one of the rare North American only titles for the system.
If you want a copy of Alien Front Online you can check these on-line retailers:


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Area Trinity College & Around
Transport All cross-city buses/Luas St Stephen's Green .
Telephone 670 4157
Open 9am-7pm Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat; 9am-8pm Thur; 11am-6pm Sun.
You really should have a correct and working phone number on your web site, Liam
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The Pima Animal Care Center is overflowing with cats, so it's offering them for no adoption fee through Saturday. The no-fee adoption applies to cats age 1 year and older.
It's $25 to adopt a kitten.
The county-run facility is open seven days a week — noon-7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when it is closed for deep cleaning.
The shelter is at 4000 N. Silverbell Road.
If you're interested in volunteering, fostering or adopting, check out the Pima Animal Care Center page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Pima-Animal-Care/366924590093854?fref=ts
About this feature:
These photos and descriptions of animals up for adoption at the Pima Animal Care Center are submitted by PACC Pets, a volunteer group.
All the pets featured here have been spayed/neutered and have had their shots.
Be sure to take the pet ID number listed with the animal if you go to PACC to see a particular cat or dog.
For more information go to www.pimaanimalcare.org or call 243-5900.


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|Home > Technology > IT News > Article
|Friday June 28, 2002
WorldCom's Chief Financial Officer Scott Sullivan and controller David Myers have been sacked, the company said.
The company has notified US securities regulators of the impropriety, WorldCom stated, and has retained an outside law firm to investigate the matter.
WorldCom CEO John Sidgmore said the company's management team was "shocked by these discoveries."
"We are committed to operating WorldCom in accordance with the highest ethical standards." Almost as an afterthought, WorldCom also stated in its release disclosing the massive scandal that it was laying off 17,000 in a cost-cutting move.
Sidgmore said the company, despite these revelations, "remains viable and committed to a long-term future."
The company is asking its recently hired outside auditors, KPMG, to conduct a new survey of the company's books for the year 2001 and 2002. Also, WorldCom said it has received word from Andersen that in light of these revelations, audits for 2001 conducted by Andersen "could not be relied upon."
Andersen said in its own statement that it had acted in accordance to "professional standards at all times" and it had been kept in the dark about the WorldCom CFO Sullivan's actions.
Last night's revelations prompted fears of what the future may hold for WorldCom, once a high-flying telecommunications company but now struggling under $US30 billion ($A53 billion) of debt.
The company's stock closed yesterday on the Nasdaq at 83 cents - in stark contrast to June 1999 figures, when its stock hit a high of 64.50 US dollars. At its stock high, the company had a market value of $US115 billion ($A202 billion). It has since plunged to below $US1 billion ($A1.8 billion).
Bankruptcy now looms in the company's near future, as the company was in negotiations with US banks over $US5 billion ($A8.8 billion) in credit.
WorldCom's news sent Asian stocks tumbling today. Tokyo's Nikkei Average dropped almost 220 points upon its open.
US stocks, especially the already ailing tech sector, are expected to take a hit when trading opens today.
The company, probably best known to US consumers as the company that operates MCI, has been rocked by stories of regulator investigations into its financials.
The news is also expected to cause further embarrassment to the Andersen firm - convicted by a US jury two weeks ago for obstruction of justice in the continuing scandal surrounding energy trader Enron.
Legal experts said this week that the Andersen conviction would set the stage for more criminal trials stemming from the Enron collapse and accounting irregularities.
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In this section
US fears cyber attacks: report
Dotcom blues threaten Salon
WorldCom scandal latest in telecom chaos
Health funds failing to use Web to cut costs: survey
Buying power
In the picture
Ready, disabled and willing
Defused and market bound
Proteome's powerful friends
Southern Cross says WorldCom problems of little impact
Microsoft discloses holes in Media Player
OzEmail says it's business as usual
Details of OpenSSH vulnerability released
Founder of sperm-donor Web site overwhelmed by response
Federal fraud charges filed against WorldCom
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The Student Affairs Maintenance Department offers students many opportunities for on-campus employment. Work with Student Affairs Maintenance and enjoy a flexible schedule, a fun environment, and the convenience of being right here on campus.
To apply for a position, please complete and submit an application.
Please submit this form electronically by attaching and emailing it to firstname.lastname@example.com or turning it in to the main SAM Building. All applications are accepted on a continual basis throughout the year and discarded following the completion of the academic year. SAM Staff will contact individuals for hiring or for additional questions.
- Computer Lab Monitor
Resident computer lab monitors assist residents with many common questions about the Internet, email, or utilizing Microsoft Office. They are also responsible for cleaning and maintaining the computers.
- Rebel Repair Desk Assistant
Desk assistants provide general customer service for the Rebel Repair Help Desk, which supports the maintenance, custodial, and CLT operations for the Office of Campus Life. Rebel Repair assistants answer phones, accept and route work order requests, and monitor the front desk service logs.
- Campus Life Technology Technician
CLT Technicians are involved in various technology-related issues such as connecting students to the Internet or assisting in maintaining the computer labs.
- Student Affairs Maintenance Team Member
- Team members assist our maintenance staff with moving furniture, painting, light carpentry, and drywall repair.


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Sen. Espaillat Helps Pass Legislation To Protect State's Youth
Senator instrumental in passing bills to heighten protections for child witnesses and children suffering from sexual abuse
(ALBANY, NY) – After much support and encouragement from Senator Adriano Espaillat (D – 31st District), the New York State Senate passed a pair of bills (S.1433 and S.1882) that focus on strengthening protections for children across the state.
"As elected officials it is our duty to ensure the rights and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens are protected," Sen. Espaillat said. "This includes our youth, particularly those who have been through emotionally traumatic experiences. These bills we've passed in the Senate address two issues that have been overlooked for far too long, and I am proud that this body recognized the need to enact stronger protections for our children."
S.1433, which passed the Senate unanimously, will allow children to testify via closed circuit television in murder and attempted murder cases. Whenever a child must testify for court proceedings it is an emotionally draining experience; and having to do so in front of not only a courtroom full of spectators, but also the defendant, can be even more damaging.
Current law allows children to testify via closed circuit television, but the law is limited to court proceedings involving only sexual abuse. Taking into account the welfare and sensitivities of a young witness, this legislation will allow children to remain unseen while testifying in cases of murder and attempted murder.
The other bill, S1882, will strengthen New York State's criminal laws that relate to adults who sexually abuse children. Under current law, a criminal charge of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree is applied when children under the age of eleven have been abused by individuals 18 and older. Meanwhile, pedophiles who sexually abuse a twelve- or thirteen-year-old victim are charged with only a Class A Misdemeanor, a penalty similar to someone who was guilty of stealing a pack of gum.
The Senate's legislation will charge anyone guilty of abusing a child under the age of 13 with Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony that carries significantly harsher penalties.


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The journeyman striker headed in the game's lone goal as Seattle got by without forwards Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins.
Enter Chad Barrett, he of the $80,000 base salary.
The journeyman striker scored the lone goal as the Sounders (11-3-2) extended their lead atop the Supporters' Shield race with a 1-0 win over D.C. United (7-5-4) at RFK Stadium.
United came closest in the 25th minute when Chris Rolfe rang the far post with a low, one-time volley from the top of the box.
PHOTOS: USA vs. Portugal | U.S. fan reactions | Beautiful people in Brazil
But it was the Sounders who struck first, with Barrett rising to nod home Gonzalo Pineda's left-footed service from the right flank.
United defender Chris Korb found himself in alone on goal with a chance to equalize in the 68th minute, but a poor first touch killed the opportunity.
Seattle is now 4-0-1 since Dempsey and defender DeAndre Yedlin departed for World Cup duty with the U.S. national team.


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by Staff Writers
Bethesda MD (SPX) Apr 17, 2014
Since the end of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, U.S. and Russian relations have deteriorated significantly due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. One of the important questions on many minds is: "What will be the impact of this crisis on the U.S. space program?"
So far, joint U.S.-Russian activities related to the International Space Station (ISS) appear to be normal, i.e., NASA pays Russia exorbitant amounts of money to fly astronauts to and from ISS, and Russia enjoys ripping off the U.S. There's nothing new here.
On the other hand, there are national security issues that may be affected by the crisis. One important area of concern addresses the continued availability of Russian-manufactured rocket engines for U.S. launch vehicles.
In the near-term, there are sufficient engines on hand to continue space launches for about another two years. However, if the crisis continues, it may jeopardize the supply of future engines. The U.S. Air Force is studying potential impacts on national security risks if the engines are not available for use after 2016.
There are two liquid-rocket engines that the U.S. relies on for space launch vehicles: the RD-180 and the NK-33. The RD-180 is manufactured by NPO Energomash and marketed in the U.S. by RD AMROSS, a joint venture between Pratt and Whitney and NPO Energomash. This engine is used by United Launch Alliance (ULA ) to propel the Atlas V first stage.
The RD-180 design is based on the Russian RD-170/RD-171 engines. The RD-170 was used on the Energia launch vehicle, which had only two launches. The RD-171 is in service on various versions of Ukrainian/Russian Zenit rockets. Since Sea Launch uses the Zenit launch vehicle, RD-171 engines have been imported to the U.S.
However, Sea Launch is not a U.S. launch vehicle, and therefore, does not launch U.S. government payloads. It is worth noting that Pratt and Whitney had intended to produce the RD-180 engine in the U.S., but all of the engines used for Atlas V have been produced in Russia.
NK-33 rocket engines were designed and built in the late 1960s and early 1970s by the Kuznetsov Design Bureau. Aerojet purchased 36 of these engines from the Russians about 20 years ago. An early version of this engine was originally intended for use on the USSR's N-1 launch vehicle for its first stage.
Although the N-1 project was cancelled, the early engine design was improved and has led to the NK-33. A total of roughly 150 NK-33 engines survived over the decades, since the 1960/70s. Presumably, there are still over 100 engines stored someplace in Russia. Aerojet modified and renamed the engine as the AJ26.
In the 1990s, Kistler Aerospace planned to use the modified NK-33 engines for its K-1 two-stage reusable launch vehicle, but failed to complete the development program and later closed its doors. Currently, two AJ26 engines are used on each first stage of Orbital Sciences' Antares launch vehicle.
Since there appears to have been no recent orders for additional Russian rocket engines, the level of concern is still low. However, if the crisis continues for many more months we can expect ULA and Orbital to become anxious about the future. In addition, NASA and the Air Force may have to look beyond current options for launch capabilities.
Related Links
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com
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